David Foley

SAXONBURG — The South Butler School Board hired a new superintendent Wednesday.

The board voted unanimously to hire David Foley as the superintendent at a salary of $150,000 a year.

The starting date for Foley, who has been the superintendent in West Middlesex Area School District in Mercer County for the last five years, hasn't been determined and will depend on his current employment contract.

He will replace Frank Prazenica, who has been serving as acting superintendent since former superintendent David Zupsic resigned in June.

Nelda Burd, board president, said Foley will be visiting the district next week.

She said 22 people applied for the job. The board's search began in October, Burd said. She commended Prazenica for leading the search for a new superintendent.

Foley graduated from Westminster College in 1991 and received his teaching certificate from University of Pittsburgh in 1993, according to a district news release.

He received a master's degree from Gannon University and a principal's certificate from Slippery Rock University. In 2007, he received a doctoral degree from Pitt.

He was a teacher in the Seneca Valley School District beginning in 1994. In 2003, he became principal of Hillview Intermediate Center in the Grove City School District. In 2009, he became assistant superintendent of the Pine-Richland School District.

The district and Foley agreed to a five-year contract with no annual pay raises, officials said. Solicitor Thomas Breth said a board vote is required annually to approve the superintendent's salary.