MARS — The Mars School Board on Monday night accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jim Budzilek and then appointed former Superintendent William Pettigrew as the interim superintendent.

Budzilek, 53, is leaving the district to take a position with the IT company Pitt Bull Secure Technologies that specializes in producing anti-bullying software.

He leaves less than a year and a half after taking the Mars job in 2013.

He will remain with the school district until Dec. 15 to help with the transition to a new superintendent. However, Pettigrew will start his role as interim superintendent today.

School board President Dayle Ferguson said Monday night that Pettigrew will be paid a fee “consistent with his last superintendent contract,” although she didn’t have the exact numbers on hand.

However, she said that Pettigrew will get a $150 monthly stipend for a “car allowance” as well as $258 monthly for health care.

The board also hired Victor Morrone, the former superintendent of the Bethel Park School District, to oversee the search committee that will recommend candidates for the superintendent.

Morrone, who headed the search committee that hired Budzilek, will be paid according to his last contract with the school, although officials also didn’t have those numbers on hand Monday night.

All action taken by the school board Monday night was by unanimous vote.

Budzilek did not attend the meeting.