WEBSTER — In what is being described as a seamless transition, the school district’s business chief will retire next month, and he will be succeeded by an assistant in that office.
Ted Avlas, the district’s assistant to the superintendent for business the past 10 years, is retiring Feb. 28.
The very next day, Monique Pierangeli will move into the post, which will be recast as “business manager.”
The district of three public schools has a budget of $20 million and, according to the latest available data on the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website, close to 1,900 students. It expends about $14,000 per student as of the latest DESE figures.
The district advertised and interviewed candidates before offering the job to Ms. Pierangeli, who has worked 18 years in the district.
She said she originally served as a parent volunteer who worked her way through the ranks.
“I would say that because my past 18 years’ experience has had me wear many different hats in the Webster public school system, I feel I truly have a special understanding of all the complexities that affect the Business Office,” she said. “I look forward to working in my new role, and I'm very excited about the direction the school system is headed under” first-year Superintendent Ruthann Goguen.
Mr. Avlas served nine years as chairman of the School Committee until February 2008. A month later, he was appointed to his district job.
Previously, Mr. Avlas served as vice president at Webster Five Cents Savings Bank. He had worked at the bank for 27 years.
The district built a middle school a decade ago while he chaired the board, and an elementary school three years ago as he led district finances.
Mr. Avlas said the succession plan was the "perfect" situation.