BVA hires new high school principal
Zachary Just will return to the district after serving as Rostraver Elementary School principal.
During a brief special meeting Wednesday, the Belle Vernon Area School Board hired a new high school principal.
In a 8-1 vote, the board approved hiring Zachary Just for the position. Directors Jason Gross, John Habel, Tara Jurczak, Josh Pollock, Stephanie Quinn, Michelle Callaway-Rodriguez, Janis Niemiec and Stacey Livengood voted in favor.
Board director Robert Harhai attended remotely and cast the lone opposing vote. He did not offer a reason why.
Just’s annual salary will be $120,000.
“As of right now the district is fully staffed, Mr. Just was the last piece of the puzzle,” Superintendent Timothy Glasspool said. “We have the adequate number of bus drivers, food service workers, teachers, administrators, so we’re fully staffed and ready for the 2024-25 school year, so that’s exciting.”
The board announced Tuesday it would have a special voting meeting Wednesday to hire Just. The decision came after Michael Sable, the former high school principal, resigned last week. Sable has now taken a new position as principal of Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville.
Just was previously the principal of Rostraver Elementary and had accepted a position as high school principal at South Allegheny High School.
He will be working alongside Jamie Maksin who was hired as the new assistant principal of BVA High School earlier this month.
Just joined the meeting through a Zoom call and expressed excitement about returning to the district.
“I just want to say thank you to the school board for this opportunity, it’s been an interesting two months for me,” Just said.
Board Director Tara Jurczak said she was excited to bring back Just, but expressed concern about the recent number of administrators choosing to leave the school district.
“We’re starting over all the time and we don’t get any traction, we need to be competitive,” Jurczak said.
