Jun 19, 2014 2 min read

CHARLEROI – The assistant to the superintendent at Chartiers-Houston School District accepted a new position to lead a Mon Valley school district.

Ed Zelich said he will begin his new duties July 1 as superintendent of Charleroi Area School District under a four-year contract that will pay him $115,000 the first year.

“It’s not about my coming in and making quick changes,” Zelich said Wednesday, a day after Charleroi Area School Board voted to hire him.

Zelich, 51, of Uniontown, replaces Brad Ferko, who accepted a superintendent position at Sharpsville Area School District, knowing in October his contract with Charleroi would not be renewed this month. Former Bentworth School District superintendent Reid K. Smith has been serving as interim superintendent in Charleroi.

Zelich, a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, said his role at Chartiers-Houston since 2012 qualified him for the Charleroi position, that he was thankful to have had the opportunity to work there.

He said he plans to devote himself to listening to the concerns of the Charleroi staff and community before identifying two key points to discuss and share with the board and developing a plan to achieve those objectives.

He said Charleroi schools have made incredible, “unheard of” strides in improving test scores.

“They are doing an amazing job with the funding (challenges) they have. My goal is to move here.”