MOUNT VERNON — Dr. Al Haschak, former director of business for Mount Vernon City Schools, is the new superintendent of the Napoleon Area City School District.
Haschak has been on a paid sabbatical leave from the Mount Vernon schools since February, and was scheduled to retire July 31, 2009. The Napoleon school board hired Haschak at a meeting on Monday; he assumed the superintendent’s duties Tuesday.
While expressing well wishes to the Mount Vernon community, Haschak said he is looking forward to the challenge of assuming the reins at Napoleon, a city with a population of about 10,000. He said he will continue to be involved in community activities in Napoleon, as he was in Mount Vernon, and hopes to get the Napoleon community more involved with the schools.
In his role as facilitator, Haschak said he will preserve the dignity and respect of all employees, and will work to remove barriers so students and staff can be successful.
“I’m inspired by the direction they want to go,” he said, “and by their desire to get there and to develop statewide recognized programs that will help teachers and benefit kids. This is a school district that has the constitution to be something special, and we’ll work toward that. ... All the good things that happened in Mount Vernon [such as the wireless computer lab and the educational foundation] we’re going to bring forward here and make that happen.”
“We offer Dr. Haschak best wishes at his new opportunity at the Napoleon Area City School District,” said Ian Watson, Mount Vernon Board of Education president.
Clarification
With regard to Wednesday’s article about Dr. Al Haschak, former director of business for Mount Vernon City Schools, when Haschak was placed on paid sabbatical leave in February, the Mount Vernon school board agreed to pay his retirement benefits and health insurance through July 31, 2009. Upon his employment with the Napoleon Area city Schools, according to the Mount Vernon separation agreement, Haschak will receive severance pay in the amount equal to the balance of his employment contract with Mount Vernon.
