CHERRY TWP — Michael Sean Arney will be the new superintendent for the Moniteau School District.

Monday night, the school board approved his hiring pending clearances.

Arney will leave his job as assistant superintendent of Upper Perkiomen School District in Montgomery County, northwest of Philadelphia, where he has been for the past year. Upper Perkiomen has about 3,300 students and four schools. Moniteau has 1,325 students in two buildings.

John D'Amore, acting superintendent for Moniteau, said Arney will begin employment in the district before March 10 but the exact date is still uncertain. Arney will receive an annual salary of $137,000 through June 30, 2018.

“I think our district is poised to have a great future and hopefully our new leader will take us there,” D'Amore said.

Arney is a graduate of Phoenixville High School and received a bachelor's degree in education from West Chester University. He received a master's degree in education, principal certification and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Penn State University. Arney received his doctoral degree in education from Immaculata University.

He was a principal in the North Penn School District for six years and principal in the Upper Moreland Township School District for six years. Both districts are in Montgomery County.

He was K-12 supervisor of curriculum and instruction at Upper Moreland and taught first and fifth grades.

Arney also is a combat veteran. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2006.

Andrea Parenti, district solicitor, said Arney's experience in education and his resume as a whole impressed the board.

She said the district recruited aggressively to fill the position quickly. After receiving about 15 applications, the board interviewed seven candidates.

“The whole board was involved in the process,” Parenti said. “The entire board attended all the interviews.”

Kathy McBride, board president, said, “His personality really clicked with the board.”

“What really sold me was the school board,” Arney said. “They are openly caring, respectful and have a genuine interest in overall student success.”

The new superintendent is married and has two daughters, one in fourth grade and one in eighth grade. The family will relocate to the area before the end of the school year.

George Svolos resigned as superintendent Oct. 10 after serving the district for six years. At the end of his tenure, his salary was $112,550.

D'Amore will continue as acting superintendent until Arney starts. The board approved D'Amore, the district's business manager, as acting superintendent Oct. 10.