Antonelli selected to head Hazleton Area

HAZLE TWP. â?? The Hazleton Area School Board on Thursday officially named Francis X. Antonelli as district superintendent and approved an approximate $23,000 salary hike for the veteran administrator.

Previously a principal and then deputy superintendent, Antonelli was appointed interim superintendent in September 2011, when then-Superintendent Samuel Marolo began a year-long leave of absence preceding his retirement, which began Aug. 2.

Antonelli had been earning his deputy salary of $127,000 since then. The board on Thursday approved a three-year contract with Antonelli that increased his salary to $150,000 with no other increases for the life of the pact.

Board member Steve Hahn said the board believed the new salary was on the low end compared to similar-sized districts at which superintendent salaries can average between $175,000 and $200,000.

The board also approved a one-year contract for Assistant Superintendent Donald Bayzick at a salary of $140,000.

Clarence John was the only board member to vote against the contracts, saying he did not have an opportunity to review them.

In other action, the board:

â?¢ Voted to advertise for a principal at McAdoo-Kelayres Elementary School, where Vice Principal Matt Marnell had been acting principal.

â?¢ Voted to advertise for an assistant principal at Freeland and Drums elementary-middle schools.

â?¢ Voted to have trailers that were considered surplus from McAdoo-Kelayres moved to the Hazleton Municipal Airport at the request of the city of Hazleton.

Several residents spoke in support of varsity baseball coach Gino Cara. Opening the coaching position was on Thursdayâ??s agenda, but the board decided to postpone discussion and action until a special meeting on Aug. 27.

The board also postponed until that meeting action on other agenda items including discussion of a construction manager, a severance agreement with athletic director Fred Barletta and entering into an independent contractor agreement with Barletta.