Connellsville school board hires superintendent
CONNELLSVILLE — Connellsville Area School Board Monday hired a superintendent under a three-year agreement with a starting salary of $115,000 before benefits.
Dr. Daniel Lujetic, who currently serves as assistant superintendent of Washington School District, will take on the position effective May 7.
“Connellsville’s a great place and a great district and I look forward to working with everyone to make it an exemplary district,” said Lujetic, who resides in Elizabeth.
Lujetic will take over for interim superintendent Dr. Tammy Stern, who also serves as director of curriculum and instruction K-12.
Director Dr. P.J. Carte said the district received 30 applicants for the position, which was narrowed down to six candidates.
“We wanted to find a fit for Connellsville,” said Carte. “Somebody who had a vision for Connellsville.”
Carte said Lujetic presented the qualities the board was looking for in a superintendent, including his experience as curriculum director at Washington and at Penn Hills School District.
According to Carte, the board has been searching for a superintendent since last summer.
Carte said the application process consisted of the board identifying what types of characteristics it wanted to see in a superintendent and also sought input from the administration, teachers and staff.
“We also did a survey for the community that was on line and took those results from what people told us along with what we thought and made a profile of what we wanted to see in a new superintendent,” said Carte.
Carte added that finding an educational leader was a key component for the position along with experience in central office administration.
From there, Carte said the board conducted multiple interviews with some candidates returning for a second or third interview.
The candidates, said Carte, were also asked to give a presentation with a specific plan of what they would do in their first 100 days as superintendent and their vision for the district.
Carte said once the applicant became a finalist, they were asked to sign an agreement permitting the board to conduct reference checks with people they provided and in the community.
Lujetic said the most important aspects of his job will be to get acquainted with people in the district, the budget and possible school closures.
“I have a lot of learning to do and am really anxious to start and hit the ground running,” said Lujetic.