BOARDMAN — Boardman schools looked to Poland schools when filling two administrative posts.

The Boardman Board of Education unanimously approved hiring Mike Masucci as the next principal at Boardman Center Intermediate School and Mark Zura as the next high school principal.

Both men come from the Poland school district.

Masucci will replace current principal Randy Ebie who is retiring June 30 after 34 years at Boardman Center and Zura is replacing Cindy Fernback, who is retiring effective June 30 after 32 years with the district.

Both men received three-year contracts with Masucci’s starting on Aug. 1 and Zura’s on July 1. Masucci’s annual salary will be $99,820 and Zura will be paid $99,127 annually, according to the school district.

During the Poland Board of Education meeting on Monday, disappointment was expressed by a district parent and substitute teacher.

Holly Kollar shared her concerns with the district, with which she has been routinely involved with for nearly a decade. “I’mm watching good, qualified administrators leave, one after another,” she said.

Kollar asked board members if anything had been done to “discourage” Masucci from leaving.

“Nobody walks away from a job of 30 years for the heck of it,” Kollar said.

Interim Superintendent Edwin Holland said “the district does not comment on personnel matters of employees.”

Sometimes in the educational field, opportunities arise for people to grow, he noted.

“While we value each and every member of our staff, the district would never hold back an individual from pursuing an opportunity to enhance his or her career as a seasoned professional educator,” Holland said.

Masucci, who presently serves as a principal in the Poland School District, is a member of the Boardman Class of 1989. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Youngstown State University, and his master’s in Educational Administration from YSU in 2001.

“At 50 years old, I decided to take a leap. The role of principal of Center Intermediate is an incredible opportunity and I cannot wait to get started,” said Masucci. “I am humbled to join such a tremendous team and look forward to creating a warm, friendly environment where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated. Go Spartans!”

Masucci and his wife Michelle have three children: a son Michael, and two daughters, Katie and Hannah.

Zura currently serves as director of Student Services in the Poland Local School District. A West Branch native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education at Youngstown State University, a master’s in Education Administration from Ashland University. He also earned superintendent license from Ashland in 2014.

“I recently returned to campus to watch Project Mayhem rehearse for their concert this past weekend and I just felt a sense of great pride,” said Zura. “So many Spartan teachers, staff and administrators continue to have a great impact on me. I am so excited to return to a role where I can get to know and work closely with students, parents and staff members with the goal of building strong relationships and trust.”

Zura and his wife Jennifer have two children, Olivia is a sophomore and Sean is finishing 7th grade. Education runs in the family, as his wife teaches math in Liberty.