New assistant business manager in place

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Bernice Rizk works at her desk in the Board of Education building in Naugatuck Sept. 4. Rizk was hired in August as assistant business manager for borough public schools. –RA ARCHIVE
Bernice Rizk works at her desk in the Board of Education building in Naugatuck Sept. 4. Rizk was hired in August as assistant business manager for borough public schools. –RA ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — The Board of Education has hired a new assistant business manager.

Bernice Rizk, 51, of Naugatuck was hired as the assistant business manager by the board in August. The position was previously held by Robert Butler, who was hired as the borough’s controller and school business manager in June.

Prior to being hired, Rizk worked for 30 years at General DataComm, a telecommunications company located in Naugatuck. When she left the company she was the financial manager.

Rizk said she left General DataComm because felt it was time to move on in her career.

“I’d been looking for a while. I wanted something I enjoy that would be a challenge,” Rizk said.

Rizk brings experience in school finances to her new position. She has served on the St. Francis-St. Hedwig School board for five years and chaired the board for three years. She has also led the board’s finance committee.

“[This position] was a good fit with my accounting background and my school background,” Rizk said.

Rizk said she plans to remain on the board in her new position. She pointed out that there is no conflict of interest that would come from holding both positions.

“I’m not in a voting position [as the assistant business manager] so there is no reason to resign from the board,” Rizk said.

Rizk holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity College in Hartford and a master’s degree in economics from the University of New Haven.
She is making $60,000 as assistant business manager, the same salary Butler made in that position. She will manage the daily operations of the school system’s business office

Rizk said that she is looking forward to being part of all the projects going on throughout the Naugatuck school system.

“There are so many new and exciting things going on here,” Rizk said. “Right now I want to be involved in as much as I can. It’s very exciting and challenging. I’m having a good time.”