St. Joseph School District Acting Superintendent Dr. Jake Long has accepted a position at a school district in Arkansas.

“The school board hired him last night after executive session for the Superintendent position,” said Marissa Byler, Mountain Home School District, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.

Long as been acting Superintendent with the St. Joseph School District since February when the Board of Education first began the process of terminating Dr. Fred Czerwonka.

The Mountain Home School Board approved the hiring of Long during an executive session Thursday night.

Mountain Home School Board President, Ben Strider said there were a number of factors that made Long a good fit for their schools.

“He just promoted a vision that fits well with the school district and the things we believe in. His leadership style was certainly one of those things we liked about him,” Strider said. “His efforts in communications, we know he’s had to do a lot of communication a lot of reaching out to the public in St. Joseph.

Strider said Long will work under a two-year contract with the district at $130,000 per year plus mileage of $3,600 and the same state benefits that all other employees receive.

His first official day on duty at Mountain Home is expected to begin July 1.