In a special meeting Tuesday night, the Pleasant Valley School Board voted unanimously to hire Joseph Surridge as the interim business manager. His first day was Wednesday.

The position has been vacant since Jan. 1.

Former business manager Susan Famularo announced in late September her intention to retire, which was effective on Dec. 31. The school district interviewed several candidates and hired Thomas Cipriano Jr. in early December, but he changed his mind and turned down the job.

Superintendent Lee Lesisko said the school district will continue to look for a new business manager, but it is difficult to fill the position at this time because they are in the middle of preparing the 2021-22 budget.

“He is a very competent and capable individual and will get us through this budget cycle,” Lesisko said.

A certified public accountant licensed in Pennsylvania, Surridge is retired from the Riverside School District. Most recently, he worked as the interim business manager for the Lehighton Area School District, and has more than 17 years of experience working in school business management with knowledge of the financial needs of the buildings and grounds, transportation and food service departments.

He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Scranton and a master’s in education with a concentration in school business leadership.

“His knowledge of business and finance is extraordinary,” said school board President Donna Yozwiak. “We look forward to working with him.”

Lesisko said Surridge will be working part-time for the school district at about 20 hours a week. He will be paid $62.50 per hour.

During the school board’s regular meeting on Jan. 14, the members also approved requests from human resource director Jessica Tomon. These include:

• Substitute: Michael Smith, third-grade teacher at PVES, replaces Jeannine Saylor.

• Intramural advisers: Toni Bush, girls lacrosse for PVHS/PVMS.