Despite opposition from two school directors, Sharpsville Area School Board hired a special education supervisor Monday.

The board voted 6-2 to hire Chris Smith of Sharon at $52,000 with a three-year contract. He previously was assistant special education director for Sharon schools.

Directors Donna Murray and Chris Ruffo voted against both creating the position and Smith's hiring. Directors Terry Karsonovich, David DeForest, Susan Pokorney, Charles Rice, Joyce Grandy and Kimberly Barringer favored both motions; Director Robert Timmerman, who has handed in his resignation, was absent.

Ruffo said his "no" vote was nothing personal about Smith. "I think he'll do a wonderful job. But we graduate less than 100 students in a class ... with two doctors to run the school (district) ... this is not a large school. I believe they can very well handle (the work)."

"I don't feel we need (the position) ... it can be eliminated without any loss as far as quality to the school district," Mrs. Murray said.

The special education supervisor works with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Douglas Hazlett. The district's nine special education teachers work with about 166 students.

"I certainly understand wanting to save money, but to me, it's an issue of quality," Hazlett said. "We'll get more quality service out of our administrative team ... In the last couple of years, we did a better job with special education. It's an issue of how much quality you want out of the program."

DeForest said the board's negotiations committee, of which he is chairman, conducted a time study earlier in the year and determined there is "ample work" for a supervisor of special education. Filling the post could also ward off a potential loss of federal and state money if the district doesn't submit the proper paperwork and may continue the current staff's productivity levels, he said.

The position actually existed before, under the title of assistant special education supervisor. Toni Mild held the position until the board accepted her resignation on Monday.

The board changed the name of the position to attract more qualified applicants, said Superintendent Dr. Derry Stufft. Three people applied; two were interviewed.