Wendy Szally has been appointed the Superintendent of Schools in the Conneaut School District effective December 1, 2009.

She has served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Conneaut District since April of 2007.

She will be replacing the retiring Superintendent of Schools Rick Rossi whose last official day is Nov. 30.

Szally was awarded a 5-year contract beginning December 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2014.

The vote to hire was a 6-1 with Dr. Carol Bocan, Rick Kelly, Cheryl Krachkowski, Dr. Walter Thomas, Jody Sperry, and Lora Zill voting yes. David Schaef voted no. Lorri Drumm and Gina Mattera McCauley were absent.

Schaef, prior to the vote to hire, indicated he strongly supported the hiring of Szally who he thought has been doing a very good job since her hiring, formally approved as July 1, 2007, but actually beginning work in April of 2007, but noted issues with the compensation package.

Szally’s pro-rated contract for this year beginning December 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010, is $113,000. It will go to $115,825 in 2010 - 2011.

She was to make $102,961 as assistant this year, that an increase of $10,039.

That increase was too high, Schaef noted later.

The school directors will now look to hire a new assistant. The school district is accepting applications through October 14.