JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — A new superintendent has been named in the Greater Johnstown School District. It's the first permanent superintendent since November 2016.
It was a unanimous decision to appoint current Assistant Superintendent Amy Arcurio to the position. She replaces substitute Superintendent Frank Frontino.
The Greater Johnstown School District has had substitute superintendents since November 2016, when then-Superintendent James Cekada went on paid sabbatical leave.
After his retirement this summer, Frontino was appointed substitute superintendent and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association led the search for a permanent leader.
Out of 21 applications, eight people from Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Maryland were selected for first-round interviews. That group was whittled down to just three final candidates, one from the Pittsburgh area, one from the Johnstown region, outside of the district and one internal candidate.
"It was clear that one individual stood out amongst all of them in order to maintain what we believe is the ability to foster a collaborative environment, effective communication and truly engage all district stakeholders, up to and including teachers, support staff, the board of school directors, the community and most importantly, the students of Greater Johnstown School District," said board solicitor Ron Repak.
Not everyone was pleased with the decision to select Arcurio as the next superintendent. Local activist John DeBartola accused her of gaining this position through nepotism. Her husband, Vince Arcurio, resigned from the board in August.
"Appointing Amy is the biggest mistake you are ever going to make," DeBartola said.
"That's OK,” Arcurio said. “They have the right to their opinion and I look forward to working with them and coming to me with issues they may have."
Arcurio says she's overwhelmed with emotion after unanimous approval by the board.
"I'm very proud to accept this appointment as the new superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District and I look forward to our future because it's very bright and we all remain optimistic," Arcurio said.
Frontino will stay with the district. He had nothing but good things to say about Arcurio's appointment.
"She has worked very hard in her life to get where she is and she is very deserving of this appointment," Frontino said.
Arcurio started as a teacher at East Side Elementary School. She then became assistant principal. She left the district for a principal position and then returned as principal of Greater Johnstown High School. For the last four years, she has served first as assistant to the superintendent and then assistant superintendent since June 2017.
Arcurio says she wants to continue the work of superintendents before her to support students and staff.
"I think we have a great program with a lot of individuals in place as far as dealing with the whole child, not just the academic portion of what a student needs to be successful."
She says there are also social and emotional components to learning, and it’s important to support students with issues beyond the classroom.
"We've started that work and I want to support the individuals, from the folks who are therapists in our school every day to the individuals writing grants to secure those funds for us," Arcurio said.
Arcurio’s contract runs from Nov. 27 to June 30, 2023 at a salary of $135,000.
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