Updated: We wrote that Thomas was an artist in residence, to clarify, he was just giving demonstrations, not a hired artist in residence.
The Franklin Area School Board is expected to vote Monday on naming Dr. Eugene "Geno Thomas as the new district superintendent.
The agenda, posted Friday, is crammed full of items from approval of extracurricular activity advisors and coaches to who they are hoping will lead the next chapter of the Franklin schools as superintendent after a few years of tumultuous times in the administration.
The agenda, posted Friday, is crammed full of items from approval of extracurricular activity advisors and coaches to who they are hoping will lead the next chapter of the Franklin schools as superintendent after a few years of tumultuous times in the administration.
School board president Sabrina Backer described Thomas as an excellent candidate. Thomas said he is excited to be joining the Franklin community and is actively looking for a place to live. "I never go into a job without going all in. I am blessed to be able to join such a fantastic district," he said Sunday night.
His first act as superintendent will be to learn the district. "I'm planning on going on a listening and learning tour," he said, emphasizing he wants to hear from the staff, teachers, local government and community members.
He will get a chance to listen and learn Monday when he joins the school board members for a fun activity - helping with painting the mural being created by Franklin High School art students. "I'm an avid supporter of the arts," he said. Thomas, who likes to throw pots on the wheel, has even given pottery demonstrations for students while being a superintendent. "I'm not afraid to get dirty and relate directly with the kids."
He will also be meeting with staff Monday and be in attendance for the school board meeting.
A native of New Castle, Thomas is 54 with a family, including a daughter in college. He said family is the forefront of his decisions and he has always planned to end his career in Pennsylvania.
Thomas currently serves as superintendent at Lowellville School District in Mahoning County, Ohio where he has served for the last eight years. He has served as superintendent at Shenango Area School District in New Castle and Valley Local School District in Lucasville, Ohio, as well as the Ohio Department of Education (SSTR5) for the Mahoning County Education Service Center and as the Senior Administrator for PACyber and NNDS.
Lowellville has approximately 475 students in the district and an annual budget of about $6.3 million. He said he has worked in small and large districts with multi-cultural student bodies in his career.
Thomas submitted his resignation to the Lowellville school board last year stating he wouldn't return after his contract ends on July 31, 2022. According to a WKBN report online, he also requested that the board allow him to leave the position early if he gets another job.
Backer said the contracts in Pennsylvania run from July 1 to June 30 so his start date listed on the agenda will be July 1. Backer said current acting superintendent Tom Holoman, who took the position May 16, will stay on until Thomas can get started.
Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in education from Slippery Rock University, a master’s in education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a doctorate in education from Youngstown State University. He also teaches graduate-level classes at Westminster College.
Franklin School board will vote on Thomas's hire and his annual base salary of $125,000 Monday at the school board meeting in the high school's library. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
His first act as superintendent will be to learn the district. "I'm planning on going on a listening and learning tour," he said, emphasizing he wants to hear from the staff, teachers, local government and community members.
He will get a chance to listen and learn Monday when he joins the school board members for a fun activity - helping with painting the mural being created by Franklin High School art students. "I'm an avid supporter of the arts," he said. Thomas, who likes to throw pots on the wheel, has even given pottery demonstrations for students while being a superintendent. "I'm not afraid to get dirty and relate directly with the kids."
He will also be meeting with staff Monday and be in attendance for the school board meeting.
A native of New Castle, Thomas is 54 with a family, including a daughter in college. He said family is the forefront of his decisions and he has always planned to end his career in Pennsylvania.
Thomas currently serves as superintendent at Lowellville School District in Mahoning County, Ohio where he has served for the last eight years. He has served as superintendent at Shenango Area School District in New Castle and Valley Local School District in Lucasville, Ohio, as well as the Ohio Department of Education (SSTR5) for the Mahoning County Education Service Center and as the Senior Administrator for PACyber and NNDS.
Lowellville has approximately 475 students in the district and an annual budget of about $6.3 million. He said he has worked in small and large districts with multi-cultural student bodies in his career.
Thomas submitted his resignation to the Lowellville school board last year stating he wouldn't return after his contract ends on July 31, 2022. According to a WKBN report online, he also requested that the board allow him to leave the position early if he gets another job.
Backer said the contracts in Pennsylvania run from July 1 to June 30 so his start date listed on the agenda will be July 1. Backer said current acting superintendent Tom Holoman, who took the position May 16, will stay on until Thomas can get started.
Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in education from Slippery Rock University, a master’s in education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a doctorate in education from Youngstown State University. He also teaches graduate-level classes at Westminster College.
Franklin School board will vote on Thomas's hire and his annual base salary of $125,000 Monday at the school board meeting in the high school's library. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
To view the entire agenda or to see any school board agenda from the last year go online to
sites.google.com/students.fasd.k12.pa.us/franklin-area-school-district/school-board/boe-agendas
sites.google.com/students.fasd.k12.pa.us/franklin-area-school-district/school-board/boe-agendas
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