The Tonawanda School Board appointed Joseph Giarrizzo administrator for business and financial services during a board meeting last week.

Giarrizzo accepted a five-year contract with a starting salary of $98,000 and is set to begin July 13.

A native of Niagara Falls, Giarrizzo has been working as the director of financial services for the Niagara Falls School District since December 2002.

A longtime finance manager for the Carbide/Graphite Group, Giarrizzo began his career in education by serving on an administrative committee in the Niagara Falls district and eventually became a member of its Board of Education. He is also an adjunct professor for Niagara University.

Giarrizzo will replace Peter Michaelsen, who accepted a position with the Copiaque Central School District on Long Island as the assistant superintendent of finance and operations.