GIRARD — The Girard Board of Education apologized to more than 50 residents and school employees Thursday after an incident where a contract was approved for former Treasurer Mark Bello, who was paid more than $460,000 in one fiscal year.

Board member Joseph Datchuk said an investigation by a third party is taking place to see what happened and to prevent it from happening again.

The apology came after resident Amy Sobnowsky said to the board, “Maybe if someone would have said ‘Hey, we gave someone a half a million dollars of your money and we are sorry.’ But no one has ever said that.”

Sobnowsky said taxpayers are angry about this.

Resident Brian Joyce said it seems like the board is investigating themselves.

He asked the board what process is involved when contracts and documents are reviewed before they are voted upon. Joyce asked if an attorney reviews the documents.

Board President Diane Alejars said the board members all get copies of the contracts to review and any discussion on an employee is done in an executive session.

Bello resigned June 7 following a state audit of the district.

CONTRACT ISSUES

The investigation is looking into a change in contract language causing Bello to get paid nearly half a million dollars in 2023.

The audit showed that Bello received a pay bump of almost $326,000 for the 2023 fiscal year as part of a retire / rehire agreement.

The Ohio Auditor’s Office called this an “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 more than $460,000 from 2022 to 2023.

Bello had received a base salary plus 2.5% of any grants he brought to the district under his previous contract. In the new contract for 2023, that number changed to 1% of the entire budget for the district.

Datchuk said he understands the public’s right to know and for the board to be transparent since it is a public organization, but because there is a pending investigation, no specifics can be addressed by the board.

“We will not make comments related to this issue for the importance of maintaining the integrity of the investigation being done as thoroughly as possible,” he said.

The board earlier this month appointed Stacy Foster as the interim treasurer as they search for a new treasurer.

Alejars said an advertisement seeking a new treasurer was done with the Trumbull County Educational Service Center, which lists all requirements to serve in the position.

“We plan to be very, very thorough this time,” Alejars said, noting it will be a multiyear contract with salary to be negotiated.

Deadline for applicants is July 12, after which interviews will be scheduled.

Alejars said an attorney will assist the board.

Board Vice President Vincent Ragozine said the financial situation of the school district “is solid and stable,” which has enabled the board to reward staff members in both unions with “affordable financial agreements” to help offset cost of living and increases in health care.

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