The Pleasant Valley School Board approved hiring an acting superintendent during its meeting Thursday night.

With a split vote, the board approved offering the position to Dr. Charlene Brennan, the retired executive director of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20. Brennan left Colonial IU20 after the end of last school year. She had been with the intermediate unit since 1997 and the executive director since 2006.

Current Superintendent David Piperato is leaving Nov. 1 to take the helm at Easton Area School District.

Mark Fitzpatrick, the solicitor for the Pleasant Valley School Board, said the wage for the position is $700 per day with a start date of Nov. 4. The termination date will be addressed in the contract, but has not been set at this point.

Brennan’s appointment did not come without dissent.

Director Laura Jecker said, “We were not given notice this person was going to be the candidate of choice.”

Her objection was not about Brennan’s qualifications, but because they didn’t receive notice of the nomination until Thursday morning. Jecker also thought they would have had multiple candidates to choose from, not just one.

Director Leonard Peeters agreed with her saying he thought the vote was being rushed.

Director Donna Yozwiak said, “We had a number of candidates for this position and only one was interviewed.” She said she thought they would have been given a couple of candidates from which to select.

“Nothing is done in secret,” said Director Kenneth Cocuzzo in answer to their objections. “Nothing is set in stone.”

He said if they don’t like Brennan’s job performance, then they can vote to not renew her contract.

“We need someone this administration can go to,” he said. “Nothing is being shoved down anyone’s throat.”

Cocuzzo said one of the benefits of selecting Brennan is that she is familiar with the school district. Pleasant Valley works with the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 for various student services.

“I don’t think we’re paying top dollar here,” he said.

“There’s actually a savings,” Director Daniel Wunder added.

Jecker reiterated her objection to just being notified of the candidate that morning.

In reply, Cocuzzo said that the board wouldn’t be in this situation of looking for a new superintendent if they weren’t continually split in 5-to-4 votes.

“We cannot come to a consensus,” he said.

Soon after that, they voted to hire Brennan as the acting superintendent by a 5-to-4 vote.

After the meeting, board President Susan Kresge said Brennan will help in the selection of the new superintendent. Because of her familiarity with the school district, they do not need to hire an outside agency to help in the search.

She couldn’t say if the candidates they had reviewed for the acting superintendent position would now be considered for the position of superintendent.