After nearly yearlong search, State College Area school board to vote on new superintendent

The State College Area School Board is set to vote Monday on a motion to appoint Curtis Johnson as superintendent. Johnson has served as the interim superintendent since May after former superintendent Bob O’Donnell resigned.

The superintendent search, which included a community survey and town halls, has led to the board offering Johnson a five-year contract with an annual salary of $210,000, according to the contract included on the board’s agenda.

Johnson has been with the district since 2003, serving as a high school principal and assistant superintendent. He also served as Penn State’s representative for the Big Ten Advisory Commission on the treatment of marginalized athletes and as a board member for Pennsylvania’s Principals Association.

“Mr. Johnson has a proven track record of listening, seeking to understand diverse viewpoints, fostering civil conversations and building consensus towards workable solutions,” board president Jackie Huff wrote Friday evening in a message to SCASD families.

Johnson’s priorities for the position include increasing the high school graduation rate from 92% to 98%, implementing an Equity Action Plan and ensuring all 4-12 graders participate in an extracurricular, co-curricular or community activity, according to the board’s agenda.

“Mr. Johnson is uniquely qualified to lead our school district,” Huff wrote. “We embrace the opportunity to continue our work with him as the superintendent of schools.”

Monday’s meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Panorama Village boardroom.

This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 6:24 PM.