Jan 16, 2015 3 min read

Fort Cherry business manager Paul Sroka has not worked at the school district for the past three months even though he’s still a paid employee and now is working part time in the same capacity for Jeannette City School District.

Sroka’s official job status and the reasons for his absence are unknown – neither he nor Superintendent Jill Jacoby would divulge details about his situation – but the two sides are working on a separation agreement as he continues to collect a paycheck from the school district.

Reached by telephone Thursday afternoon while at Jeannette, Sroka declined to comment. Sroka, who has worked as Fort Cherry’s business manager for nearly 13 years, is under contract until June with a salary that pays him more than $80,000 a year.

He said he will not discuss the situation “until an agreement is reached” with Fort Cherry.

Jeannette Superintendent Matthew Hutcheson said Sroka was hired by the school board in late November to serve as the interim business manager. He typically works two to four days a week, Hutcheson said, and is paid $275 a day.

“I’m aware of it,” Hutcheson said of Sroka’s job status with Fort Cherry. “It was discussed, but right now we’re in a position that we need someone in place, and he is able to fill that position.”

Jacoby said she did not know Sroka was working part time at Jeannette until informed by a reporter Thursday afternoon, but she would not say if that development could change his job status at Fort Cherry. She said a Fort Cherry employee is permitted to work at another school district “under certain circumstances,” although she did not elaborate.

She said Sroka has not worked at Fort Cherry since mid-October, and accounting coordinator Jessica Drylie is performing additional duties as the substitute business manager. Jacoby said she is not permitted to discuss Sroka’s job status because of “personnel” reasons. If a settlement is reached and approved by the school board, the financial details must be made public.

The situation involving the business manager is not listed as an agenda item for the school board’s workshop meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the elementary center library.

Meanwhile, Hutcheson did not rule out Sroka eventually being hired as Jeannette’s permanent business manager.

“There is the potential that he could (become full time),” Hutcheson said. “At this point, my most important concern is to get things operating. He is doing everything we need to have done.”