The Panther Valley School Board elevated one of its principals to a newly created administrative position and promoted an assistant principal Wednesday night.

Elementary Principal Robert Palazzo was appointed to the new position of supervisor of Curriculum, Student and Community Services; and also took on additional responsibilities as school psychologist.

Superintendent Dave McAndrew said that Palazzo has been wearing many hats in the district, and this move is really a change in job title and description.

“This position will allow him to do a little more school psychologist work and also focus on aligning the curriculum, supporting new teachers, overseeing state and local assessments, managing grants and overseeing the many partnerships efforts in the district, like Community Schools,” he said.

The district is also without a full-time school psychologist, McAndrew said.

“Our school psychologist has resigned because she is moving out of state,” he said. “We are actively looking for a new school psychologist. Our need for a school psychologist is so great that we also contract out many of our evaluations.”

Palazzo will stay at this current rate of pay, which will be $93,414.09 for the 2024-25 school year, business manager Jesse Walck said Thursday following the board meeting.

He also receives $35,000 for his additional duties as school psychologist the past two years, saving the district roughly $90,000, Walck said.

“He provides a valuable service to the district,” Walck said. “You cannot get a psychologist below market rate at this point. There just aren’t enough of them to fill all of the vacancies that exist.”

With the stipend for the additional duties, Palazzo’s total salary will be $128,414.09 next school year, Walck said.

The board also appointed Paula Jones as the new elementary school principal at a salary of $83,500.

“The district feels Dr. Jones has done a real impressive job as the district assistant principal and we are encouraged that she will be excellent in the new role,” McAndrew said.

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