Dale Sleva

ADAMS TWP — The new Mars Middle School principal won’t have to travel far from his old office to arrive at his new job.

Dale Sleva, who has been the assistant principal at the high school since 2007, will be the acting principal at the middle school for the 2015-16 school year.

The school board approved the move Tuesday night.

The position became available last month when Rich Cornell announced his retirement at the end of this school year. Cornell has been the principal at the middle school for nearly 14 years.

Cornell’s tenure as principal, and the respect he gained over the years from students, parents, teachers and school board members is not lost on Sleva.

“I will truly have some big shoes to fill at the middle school,” Sleva said.

School board President Dayle Ferguson explained that Sleva will be principal for one school year, and then his performance will be evaluated. Sleva will be offered a permanent position at the middle school based on the evaluation.

She said an acting assistant principal will be hired at the high school, and that candidate also will be evaluated for a potential permanent placement at the end of the 2015-16 school year.

Sleva has a master’s degree in educational administration and a post baccalaureate degree in social studies and education from Point Park University. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington & Jefferson College.

He is working on a master’s in public management at Carnegie Mellon University.