John Zahorchak is set to return to Plum School District as its new director of finance and operations.
Zahorchak, a Plum resident, previously served in the same role from 2016-2021 before leaving for neighboring Penn Hills School District.
There, he helped oversee Penn Hills’ exit from financial recovery status in 2024 after a five-year period of monetary woes.
At Plum School Board’s December meeting, Zahorchak said he hopes to stay in the district until his retirement.
“What I would like to bring is balance,” he said. “I’m going to try to bring you as many perspectives as possible.”
Plum Superintendent Rick Walsh, who also left and later returned to the district, welcomed Zahorchak’s homecoming, calling it “full-circle.”
Plum’s chief financial officer post was left open last month after Ryan Manzer left for a similar role at Fox Chapel Area School District.
Manzer stepped into his role at Plum soon after Zahorchak’s departure in 2021.
Mark Stropkaj, the board’s finance liaison, thanked Manzer for his years of service ahead of his departure.
“Mr. Manzer, we wish you well on your next endeavors. I appreciate all the support you’ve given me over the past two years,” Stropkaj said. “You’ve been a great asset to this board and the previous board.”
Before Plum, Zahorchak served as the business manager for Greater Johnstown School District’s from 2012 to mid-2016.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
In remarks to the school board, Zahorchak said he realized school finances can be “boring,” but he’ll try to pick things up where Manzer left off.
“I will do my best to educate you as Mr. Manzer has and make it simple, engaging and talk about the hot topics out there,” Zahorchak said.
His salary was set at $170,000.
He and Walsh said they’re still working to determine his start date.
