CANFIELD – The South Range school board Thursday night hired a new treasurer for the start of the upcoming calendar year.

The board unanimously selected Mario Nero of Lowellville to replace retiring treasurer and CFO Jim Phillips. Nero’s contract is for $88,000 annually through July 2025, with remaining terms to be negotiated with the board president. Phillips is retiring at year’s end after 30 years with the district.

Nero is currently the treasurer/CFO at Bristol Local School District in Bristolville, a position he has held since April, 2012. He previously worked as an assistant treasurer at Liberty Local School District for a year and interned in treasurer’s departments at Howland and Lowellville local school districts in 2011. He is also a certified public account since September, 2018.

Board President Ralph Wince said the board completed a full evaluation of five applicants for the position, interviewing each and inviting three back for a second interview – Nero, Randy Chismar and Byran Schiraldi.

Wince said all three finalists were impressive and it was difficult to choose.

“But in the end we decided on Mario. His 10 years of experience that he brings to South Range and his knowledge in school finance will be very beneficial to our district,” Wince said. “We are looking forward to working with him in the very near future.”