A Familiar Face Takes Charge of Plum School District's Finances

John Zahorchak is stepping back into his old shoes as the director of finance and operations for Plum School District. This time, he's bringing a wealth of experience and a promise to make school finances more engaging. Zahorchak isn't new to the district or the role. He previously held the same position from 2016 to 2021 before moving to Penn Hills School District. There, he played a key role in helping the district recover from financial troubles, a process that took five years to complete. Zahorchak's return to Plum comes after the previous finance director, Ryan Manzer, left for a similar role at Fox Chapel Area School District. Manzer had taken over Zahorchak's position in 2021. The school board's finance liaison, Mark Stropkaj, expressed gratitude for Manzer's service, acknowledging his contributions to the district.Zahorchak's career in school finance spans over a decade. Before Plum, he worked as the business manager for Greater Johnstown School District from 2012 to mid-2016. He's also earned advanced degrees in business administration and human resource management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In his first address to the school board, Zahorchak admitted that school finances can be dull but promised to make the subject more accessible and engaging. He aims to build on the work done by his predecessor, Manzer. His salary for the role is set at $170, 000, and he's planning to stay in the district until retirement. The exact start date is still being determined.