A little over a month after she submitted her resignation, Belle Vernon Area Superintendent Michele Dowell has decided to remain at the district.

At the end of February, Dowell told the school board that she would be leaving to work as director of curriculum with the Ringgold School District in Washington County. Her starting date was scheduled for May 6.

But after receiving an offer “that was really hard for me to refuse,” Dowell said she decided to stay on at Belle Vernon. Dowell was officially sworn in as superintendent at this week’s school board meeting.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I love Belle Vernon and the people and the staff and the kids.”

Dowell has a five-year contract and will make $150,000 during the 2019-20 school year.

Originally citing family time as her reason for resigning, Dowell said the school board is helping her to create a balance between home and work life.

Dowell has worked in the district for almost 10 years, serving as acting superintendent since May after former Superintendent John Wilkinson resigned. Before she accepted the position, she worked as principal at Marion Elementary School.

“My heart is in Belle Vernon,” she said. “It was a really hard decision to leave.”

Around the time Dowell submitted her resignation, three school board members also decided to leave. Dowell said her decision did not reflect the reasons of former school board members Aaron Bialon, John Nusser and Dan Sepesky.

At the time, Bialon, who served on the board for 22 years, said he resigned because of personal reasons. Sepesky, who sat on the board for almost 12 years, and Nusser, who served for nine years, said the board was moving in a direction that didn’t line up with their values. They declined to elaborate.

Dowell said three new directors — Dan Engstrom, Stacey Livengood and Dan Kovatch — joined the board almost two weeks after the resignations were submitted. Dowell did not immediately have further information on the new board members.

“It’s a very good group that I think have a lot to bring together,” Dowell said of the new members.

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