SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Moraine Elementary School will begin the school year with an interim principal, who the Slippery Rock Area School District school board appointed during a meeting Monday, Aug. 12.

The appointment of Debra DeBlasio, a retired educator of New Castle Area School District, comes a few weeks after the board voted to terminate an unnamed professional employee July 29. The district’s superintendent, Alfonso Angelucci, said May 3 that Kristie Shulsky, who was the school’s principal, had been on leave since April 30. From that point to the end of the school year, assistant superintendent, Susan Miller, took on the principal’s duties, which Angelucci said is standard practice. Kristie Shulsky’s name is now no longer listed in the school district’s online directory.

Angelucci said Monday the district was going through a procedure for personnel matters relating to the situation at Moraine Elementary, but publicly thanked the parents and staff of the school for their patience over the final weeks of last school year.

“I just want to thank the parents and the staff of Moraine Elementary School for what they went through the past three months and the cooperation we got,” Angelucci said. “They are just flat out rock stars who really should be commended.”

Mike Hnath, solicitor for Slippery Rock Area School District, said after the July 29 meeting that the district was “still in the process” of deciding how to fill the role of the terminated employee.

DeBlasio’s appointment is effective Tuesday, and she will be paid a rate of $45 per hour until Slippery Rock Area School District hires a permanent principal. DeBlasio will be present at a school kickoff event Thursday, Aug. 15, the Back to School Blast Off, which will also offer numerous resources to students of the district to prepare for school, which begins Aug. 21.

According to Angelucci, the event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Moraine Elementary, and there will be vendors including the Rocket Closet, which offers clothing to students in need.

“The purpose of it is really family and fun as we get ready for the school year,” he said. “We’re supposed to have big inflatables, we’re going to have some games, stations, we’re opening up the playground.”

Angelucci also said Monday that the school board will have a special meeting Wednesday, where the board will vote to hire new staff members prior to the school year. The meeting will take place at noon, and there will be a virtual attendance option.