Saugus seeks new high school principal for fall

SAUGUS – It looks like Saugus High School could have a new principal this fall.The school district posted a job opening for the position on Monday with the 2013-2014 school year listed as the effective date of employment.Qualifications include a school principal license from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a minimum of a master?s degree with graduate work in educational administration, curriculum development, supervision, and/or evaluation and a minimum of three years experience as a principal, assistant principal, or comparable administrative position, and a minimum of three years experience as a teacher.The job posting states the salary is to be negotiated with the superintendent.Principal Joe Diorio was placed on paid leave Dec. 18, pending an audit into the student activities account. Audit results were released in April and detailed nearly $17,000 in “questioned” stipends paid to Diorio since 2006 along with “non-compliant” payments from the student activity account dating back 20 years.While on leave, Assistant Principal Jason Merrill was named acting principal.Diorio, who has been principal since 2003, was named a finalist for the headmaster position at Lowell High School in March, but did not get the job.Last month, outgoing Superintendent Richard Langlois announced Diorio returned to work for the district, but was assigned to the Roby Building in “administration.”?This is to inform you that the School District has concluded its investigation of matters related to Student Activity Funds and Mr. Diorio,” said Langlois in a statement. “Appropriate personnel action has been taken. Mr. Diorio has returned to work effective this date, May 30, 2013.”School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said new Superintendent Michael Tempesta will likely set up a search committee and noted the School Committee has no involvement in hiring a new principal because it?s a superintendent appointment.Langlois and Merrill could not be reached.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].