ORWIGSBURG — Heath Renninger, principal of Blue Mountain Elementary East and Blue Mountain Elementary West, is leaving the school district to become superintendent of the Pine Grove Area School District.
The Blue Mountain school board voted Thursday to accept his resignation effective Sept. 30. He will start his new position in October.
“This has been a tough decision simply because I love Blue Mountain. It’s like a second home to me,” Renninger said Thursday.
He did not attend the meeting because he was at a special meeting of the Pine Grove Area school board, at which he was hired as superintendent.
He was with the Blue Mountain school district for 13 years and was principal at the schools for 11 years. Renninger said his career goal has always been to be a superintendent.
Blue Mountain Superintendent David Helsel said he will miss Renninger.
“We really appreciate all of the things he has done for the students,” Helsel said.
School board President Anne Usuka said the district regrets that he is leaving but wish him nothing but the best. Helsel said the search has been ongoing for someone to fill that position.
“We would hope to have somebody to appoint at the September (22) board meeting,” Helsel said.
Resumes are still be accepted. Renninger said he submitted his resignation letter Monday.
Renninger said he will start his time as superintendent on Oct. 1 — which is a Saturday — but his first day on the job will be Oct. 3. His contract is from Oct. 1 to June 30, 2020. He will make $117,500 at Pine Grove, Dave Lukasewicz, Pine Grove school board president, said. He made about $90,000 in Blue Mountain.
“I was honored to accept the position of superintendent in Pine Grove, and I look forward to working with staff, students and the community in the very near future. Pine Grove Area should be proud of its many accomplishments over the years. I look forward to helping to continue this tradition of excellence,” Renninger said.
Lukasewicz said Renninger is a good fit for the district.
“We are really looking forward to having him here,” he said Thursday.
Acting Superintendent Terrence Maher will remain in that role until Oct. 1 and will help Renninger with the transition.
Kendy Hinkel was the previous superintendent of the Pine Grove Area School District before her resignation earlier this year.
In other business, the Blue Mountain school board ratified the hiring of:
• Mark Cesari as Blue Mountain Elementary East principal at a prorated salary of $84,000. He started in July and was previously the Blue Mountain Middle School assistant principal. Cesari replaces former principal David Zula.
• Katherine Hubiak as Blue Mountain Elementary East assistant principal at a salary of $57,800. She was previously interim assistant principal.
• Jill Kulbitsky as assistant director of facilities at $35,000. She is replacing Rick Wanamaker, who will be retiring.
• Timothy Gombar as Blue Mountain Middle School assistant principal at a salary of $70,000. He is replacing Cesari. Gombar was a fifth-grade teacher in Tamaqua Area School District at West Penn Elementary.
All positions include benefits.