The North Royalton City Schools Board of Education approved a new contract to Assistant Superintendent, Jim Presot, at their January meeting on Monday, January 7. Presot retired at the end of last year. The Board approved the appointment of Presot as Assistant Superintendent, effective February 1, 2019 through July 31, 2022, at a pro-rated base salary of $65,181.40 for the period of February 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019.
According to Ohio law, the North Royalton School District posted a Legal Notice on November 8, stating that James J. Presot, currently employed as the assistant superintendent, will be retired and seeking re-employment with the district in the same position, following his retirement. The Board then held a public hearing on the issue of re-employing him on Monday, December 10.
Presot joined the North Royalton School District as Assistant Principal of the High School in 1997. He then became High School Principal, starting with the 2000-2001 school year and was then promoted to Assistant Superintendent in August of 2002. In 2016, Presot was named Ohio School Business Official of the Year by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials.
As Assistant Superintendent, Presot is very involved in the district’s facilities operation and infrastructure, including the planning and construction of the facilities projects that are currently taking place at the middles, high school and new elementary school.
Presot said he would have been working anywhere, but is happy that he may be able to do so with the North Royalton District.
Board of Education President, Dr. John Kelly, stated, “I am aware that there are community members that do not agree with the retire/rehire concept. I understand and respect their right to that position. I feel, however, that it is critical that the school district and the community have the best possible person in a critical position during the District’s largest construction project in its history. There is no doubt in my mind that there is no better person with the knowledge of construction, the respect of construction professionals and the knowledge of our facilities than Jim Presot. In spite of the fact that the State retirement system requires him to begin taking the distribution of his benefits, which he earned in 32 years of employment; we get the same excellent employee doing the same exemplary work at no additional cost to the taxpayers of North Royalton.”
“Not only does he have the expertise and background to assure success of the District’s major facilities projects, he has the spirit, drive and enthusiasm to make sure all the ‘I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed,” said Gurka. “Our District is a better place today because of what Jim has and will continue to contribute.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer