By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news

NAPOLEON -- Dr. Al Haschak, most recently the assistant superintendent/director of business for Mount Vernon City Schools, was hired Monday as the new superintendent of Napoleon Area Schools.

The board approved Haschak's administrative contract through July 31, 2011, with a starting salary of $105,000. He has already moved to Napoleon and is officially on the job today. He spoke at a "meet the staff" breakfast this morning and is scheduled to spend the remainder of the day making various stops around the school community.

"Dr. Haschak was a very strong candidate and certainly met all the criteria we were seeking for the position," said board member Mike Wesche. "I'm very confident he will provide strong leadership for our school district."

Haschak, who attended Monday's board meeting, did not make any comments since board members wanted him to talk to staff members before talking to the media. According to a press release issued by the board, Haschak is most noted for creating collaborative relationships with the business community, governmental agencies and community groups.

The superintendent search was led by Larry Siclair, who chaired a 13-member search committee of district residents and staff.

Haschak served as assistant superintendent and director of business at Mount Vernon City Schools from 1999 until last November, when he was placed on paid administrative leave for reasons that have never been disclosed. On Feb. 20, the school board approved a paid sabbatical leave for Haschak from Jan. 1, 2008-July 31, 2009.

He has been active in the Mount Vernon community as president of the Station Break Senior Services Center, board member for the New Hope Industries for the handicapped and a Kiwanis member.

Although Haschak is not obligated to do any work for Mount Vernon City Schools during his sabbatical, he is being paid his annual salary of $88,997 and will continue to be paid through July 31, 2009.

In addition, the Mount Vernon district is paying Haschak's contributions to the State Teachers Retirement System through the same date. The Mount Vernon board also paid Haschak $1,300 as reimbursement for consulting with an attorney before signing the agreement.

The signed agreement included the following clause: "While the parties acknowledge this agreement is a record subject to disclosure in the event of a public records request, the parties agree that the discussions and circumstances giving rise to this agreement will remain confidential between the parties."

Moriarty said this morning that the Napoleon board was aware of Haschak's contract with Mount Vernon and fully satisfied that there were no problems on his part.

"We were aware of his situation and his references came back very favorable," said Moriarty. "The breakfast this morning with the staff went very well."

Haschak is a graduate of Brooklyn City Schools near Cleveland and a 1976 graduate of Cleveland State University, where he earned his master's degree in education in 1979. He obtained his doctor of education degree from the University of Akron in 1991 and has completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Akron and Ashland University.

From 1976-85, Haschak served as English teacher and assistant varsity basketball coach at Lorain Admiral King High School. He moved on to Madison Local Schools, serving as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction from 1985-90 and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction from 1990-91.

Prior to taking the Mount Vernon job, he was director of curriculum at Miami Trace Local Schools in Washington Court House from 1991-93, assistant superintendent at Northeastern Local Schools near Springfield from 1993-97 and superintendent at Clearview Local Schools near Lorain from 1997-99.

Moriarty thanked the search committee and West Elementary principal Dr. Steve Fogo, who has served as interim superintendent since Aug. 1.

"Steve filled in very ably as interim superintendent," said Moriarty. "He did a great job with the transition to the new grade level configuration."

Haschak replaces David Watson, who resigned in June to take the position of headmaster at Howe Military School in Howe, Ind.

One of Haschak's first major challenges will be to help generate public support for a 7.9-mill renewal levy over a continuing period of time on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The current levy, which generates just over $2.2 million per year for operations, expires at the end of 2009. It was approved as a five-year levy in March 2004.