The firing of Farrell High School Principal Lee McFerren last week closed an issue that’s occupied the hearts and minds of many in the district.

It also opened the door to dealing with a spate of other issues in the district, including filling McFerren’s position, finding a permanent superintendent and trying to improve the academically-struggling district’s performance on state test scores.

“We’re trying to move as quickly as possible,” on filling the positions, school board President Marcena Cimoric said.

The same night the board voted 7-2 to fire McFerren they approved posting the vacant position. The hope is to have someone in place before the 2008-2009 school year begins.

“We’ve got to make sure we do everything right,” Mrs. Cimoric said. “Do everything thoroughly, check backgrounds.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a strong leader.”

Mrs. Cimoric’s sentiments echoed those made by board vice president Terry Harrison — who with director Lester Robinson cast the only votes against firing McFerren.

“It’s just time to move forward,” Harrison said. “We have to get some things together so we don’t make this mistake again.”

As of last week, the district had spent more than $45,000 in fees to Michael Levin and Andria Saia, the Huntingdon Valley, Pa., attorneys the district hired to investigate and prosecute McFerren, according to Business Manager Michael Stabile.

McFerren was in the third year of a five-year contract that paid him $82,500 per year. He said he will appeal the board’s decision to the state Department of Education.

The district also needs to find a permanent replacement for Superintendent Richard Rubano, who retired at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. Elementary Principal Carole Borkowski served as interim superintendent for the 2007-2008 school year but the state school code caps “interim” service at a year. That year ended June 30.

The Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City is helping the school board in its search for superintendent, Mrs. Cimoric said. The board, which doesn’t meet in July, hopes to fill both positions at its August meeting, Mrs. Cimoric said.