The Pleasant Valley School Board unanimously approved hiring James Konrad as the next superintendent. He is the third person to hold the position since 2017.

Konrad’s contract is for five years with a starting salary of $170,000 per year. He has a doctorate in educational administration from Temple University and hails from Bucks County. Since 2017, he has been the superintendent of the Washington School District, just south of Pittsburgh.

He is replacing Lee Lesisko, Ph.D., who was paid $155,000 but did not have previous experience as a superintendent. Lesisko retired after one year in the job.

Lesisko replaced David Piperato, who left the position in November 2019 after two years. He went on to become superintendent of the Easton Area School District with a starting salary of $180,000.

“We have selected an individual who we believe is a great fit for the district,” said School Board President Donna Yozwiak.

School Board Director Dan Wunder said to Konrad, “I wish you the best. I supported you in my vote tonight because I recognized your energy, and your personality struck me as someone who is going to work very hard to get people together to heal. I think you have what it takes to pull this district together.”

Wunder, who said the meeting might be his last one, took a moment to thank the district’s acting superintendent, Charlene Brennan, Ph.D.

“You have no idea how fortunate this district, this community is to have had Dr. Brennan step up not once, but twice and worked for this district through some difficult times,” he said. “Charlene, you have my utmost respect and gratitude.”

Later in the meeting, Brennan publicly thanked Wunder for his comments.

She also welcomed Konrad and said, “I am at your service as you transition into your new position. Congratulations, as Mr. Wunder said, you have a wonderful team here, and I’m sure you’re going to take the district to great places.”

The public was not as welcoming of the new superintendent. Several parents said they were upset that there wasn’t more involvement of the parents in the selection beyond the survey, which was placed on the district’s website and for parents and the community to weigh in.

School Board Director Susan Kresge asked to talk to the public directly, during the part of the meeting where the school board directors can make comments.

Kresge said, “It’s very difficult to hire a superintendent. We did an extensive search, and we, the nine of us, feel that we have gotten someone that will take us to new levels. We have all the confidence in this gentleman. And I just hope that you will come along with us and help him acclimate, show him a welcoming district, and hopefully, we can make some positive changes here, because we definitely have a lot of things that we need to work on, so please help us. I know you’re trying, and hopefully, we can have some wonderful things happen.”

Konrad will start no later than Jan. 10, 2022.