The Central Valley school board is set to solve its two-principals-for-one-high-school problem by splitting the job in two.

Monaca High School and Center Area High School will become Central Valley High School in the fall, thanks to the merger of their school districts in July. When they do, Center Principal Anthony Mendicino will be principal for academic programs, and Shawn McCreary of Monaca will be principal for student programs.

"They do not want to feel, nor do I want to see, a pecking order," Superintendent Dan Matsook said at a planning meeting Thursday night. "They are both principals."

He noted that the two men have been "joined at the hip" doing merger planning and have embraced the arrangement. Mr. Mendicino will concentrate on curriculum and classes; Mr. McCreary will oversee student activities, athletics and support programs.

The school board will vote on the arrangement at its official meeting next week.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.