CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The Clarion Area School Board selected retired Oil City School District Superintendent Joe Carrico as interim superintendent to replace Mike Stahlman.

(Photo courtesy Clarion University)

Stahlman will soon leave to assume the position of executive director of the Riverview Intermediate Unit 6.

Carrico begins on January 2, and pay will be $375.00 each day school is in session. He will also do a few transition days between now and Christmas before he officially starts.

Carrico will serve as interim superintendent until a new superintendent is able to take over, according to Stahlman.

“If the hiring process moves quickly, and he or she is able, it would be until then,” said Stahlman. “Most likely, it will be through the end of this school year and be ready for the start of next school year. That’s the goal. The school board is actually doing the search themselves.”

“We’ve already advertised for that position, and the deadline was November 30.  We have 20 applicants for the position, and that’s really unheard of these days, and that’s positive.  The board has received a summary of those applicants and has started the review process.  Hopefully, we will be starting interviews in early January at the latest.”

Hiring a superintendent in March or early April will allow the new person to transition or move and be ready for a new school year. The new person would also have an opportunity to contribute to the planning for the next school year, as well as the budget.

Board members also approved the purchase of two trophy cases, one for academics and one for all sports, requested by Athletic Director Nancy Mills.

One will be located in the high school main entrance area and would display Clarion Area School District students’ personal or team scholastic accomplishments, and the other at the gym entrance would be used as an all-sports trophy and awards case for any student-athlete or athletic program that achieves any Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title, D9 Football title, or state accolades.

“Recognizing our students’ accomplishments will be beneficial to our school and community,” said Mills. “Purchasing these two additional trophy cases will provide the space needed to highlight our students’ many accomplishments while demonstrating the school pride in documenting scholastic or athletic history.”

In other business, Hugh Henry was re-elected as president, Melissa Anderson as vice president, and Julie Hartley as board treasurer.