Greensburg Salem marks two retirements, hires business manager

Greensburg Salem School District said goodbye to two longtime employees and hired a new administrator Wednesday.

The school board accepted the resignation of Chris Suppo, the district’s coordinator of technology, transportation and community relations.

He’s leaving to take a job as superintendent of Shippensburg Area School District.

“Thank you Greensburg Salem,” Suppo said to the board, administrators and community members who attended Wednesday’s school board meeting. “It’s been a great 12 years. We have great people, great community, great teachers and great administrators.”

Suppo’s annual salary with the district was $103,000.

The board also said farewell to custodian Mark Kuhns, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the district.

Board members and administrators praised Kuhns’ dedication to the school and his kindness to students.

Kuhns has been part of Greensburg Salem almost his entire life. He was part of the first cohort at Dr. Robert F. Nicely Elementary School in Greensburg when it opened in 1969.

“My best buddy there was the janitor,” he said.

Now that he’s a custodian, he said he tried to foster the same friendships with students.

“I treated the kids the way (he) treated me,” Kuhns said. “It costs nothing to be nice to people.”

The board also approved the hire of James Dzurica as the district’s new business manager.

Dzurica will replace James Meyer, who resigned effective this month.

Dzurica is the business manager of Belle Vernon Area School District.

“He’s got a wealth of experience,” Greensburg Salem Superintendent Gary Peiffer said.

Dzurica’s salary at Greensburg Salem will be $105,000 a year.