GIRARD — The Girard City Schools Board of Education has received seven applications for an opening on the board with the recent resignation of Diane Alejars.

Board President Vincent Ragozine said at Thursday’s meeting the board will review the applicants and schedule interviews to have someone in place by Feb. 10.

The board met in executive session following the regular meeting.

Those who applied are Zachary Hileman, Tammy King, Ana Markle, Danny O’Connell, James Stacciotti, Zac Steiner and Joanne Sura.

Ragozine said the board was impressed that seven residents have expressed interest in serving on the board.

Alejars, who served on the board for 17 years, including many as board president and vice president, said it was time for her to step down.

Because Alejar’s term is unexpired, the board must appoint an individual to fill her vacated seat for the last year of her four-year term. The person selected will serve a one-year term and if they choose to continue on the board for a new term would have to run in the November general election.

Superintendent Bryan O’Hara presented Alejars a plaque from the board and school district thanking her for her service.

Alejars was a public school teacher for 37 years and a teacher in the private sector for 17 years.

She said she appreciated the support she has received over the years from the school district staff and community as a board member.

“My parents always said it is always better to give than to receive,” she said of why she chose to serve on the board.

Alejars and the current four board members were all recognized for their service as part of School Board Recognition Month.

STATE AUDIT

The board is waiting for a state audit of the school district’s funds in 2023 when former treasurer Mark Bello was serving.

Ragozine said the audit is ongoing and the finances are still being reviewed by the state.

Bello stepped down last summer after a change in contract language resulted in him receiving almost $326,000 more in his pay for one fiscal year 2023.

A previous audit of the district called the pay increase “excessive and extravagant use of District resources and behavior a prudent person would not consider reasonable and necessary business practices …”

Bello’s total pay went from under $189,000 to over $460,000 from 2022 to 2023 because of the language change.

Under Bello’s previous contract, he received a salary plus 2.5 percent of any grants he brought into the district. Under the new contract, that number changed to one percent of the entire budget for the district.