Jim Budzilek

ADAMS TWP — The Mars School Board will work to create a seamless transition to a new superintendent after Superintendent Jim Budzilek leaves to take a job with a Cambria County company.

Dominic Cannizzaro, CEO of Pitt Bull Secure Technologies of Johnstown, said his company hired Budzilek as its director of education. Cannizzaro said it is a new position in the eight-year-old company.

Budzilek, who was hired as Mars superintendent in May 2013, resigned Monday.

“We respect (Budzilek’s) decision to retire from public education to pursue a private sector position,” Mars School Board President Dayle Ferguson said in a statement. “We appreciate his efforts and energy during his short tenure with our school district.”

Budzilek’s official date of resignation is Dec. 15, but Ferguson said he will use remaining vacation and personal days until that time.

William Pettigrew, who retired at the end of 2013 after 25 years as Mars’ superintendent, has returned to be the interim superintendent.

The board agreed to pay Pettigrew $734 per day. He will work as needed, said district business manager Jill Swaney.

The district also has contracted with Victor Morrone, the same consultant it used to find Budzilek, to find a new superintendent. Morrone, a Middlesex Township resident, will be paid $14,000.

“We will meet with Dr. Morrone and begin the important superintendent search process,” Ferguson said. “As before, we will provide timely updates on our progress, including opportunities for staff and community input.”

Cannizzaro said Budzilek’s focus will be managing the information technology company’s harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) program. The company-created software is used in more than 1,000 schools in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Texas.

“Dr. Budzilek will bring it to Pennsylvania and other states,” Cannizzaro said.

While Budzilek will technically have an office at the company’s Johnstown location, he will spend most of his time presenting the program to school districts all over the state, Cannizzaro said. He will occasionally travel to the company’s New Jersey office.

He said officials at the family owned business were impressed with Budzilek.

“We loved his energy and determination,” Cannizzaro said. “He’s a real go-getter.”

He said the HIB software allows for anonymous reporting of bullying, and identifies bullying trends and locations where incidents are occurring.