Submitted Photo Ron Tonelli is set to become the next Fredonia High School Principal.

Ron Tonelli will take on one of the toughest tasks any member of the Fredonia Central School District will face after this school year ends. He will be filling the shoes of Darrin Paschke.

Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox said upon Paschke’s retirement resignation, “I’m not sure anybody is more Fredonia than Darrin Paschke.”

Hiring another Fredonia resident, a former administrator at the district, and a parent of current Fredonia students certainly seems to have checked every box in hoping to replace someone so irreplaceable. A ringing endorsement from Paschke himself probably didn’t hurt, either.

Tonelli will soon be stepping into the vacancy created by Paschke’s retirement. Beginning July 1, Tonelli will be the new High School Principal at Fredonia.

“I honestly can’t think of a better person for the job, and I mean that from my heart,” Paschke said of his successor and former colleague. “Mr. Tonelli is going to do great things for our district and I’m looking forward to seeing what great things come.”

Tonelli, a former Assistant Principal at Fredonia, left the district in 2021 to become Middle/High School Principal at Cassadaga Valley. He now returns to Fredonia as High School Principal.

Tonelli called the appointment “bittersweet” because of the time and effort he put into his role at Cassadaga Valley, but the chance to build relationships at his home district – where his children go to school — was “really special” to him.

“Ron, you’re going to bring a lot to our district,” Paschke said to Tonelli. “Welcome, and good luck to you, my friend.”

Always a strong advocate for both his colleagues and students, it was fitting that the hiring process for Paschke’s replacement involved student input alongside administration and faculty collaboration. Throughout that process, Tonelli appeared as the obvious fit.

“The idea is always to select the best candidate that would be the best fit for us here in Fredonia,” said Fredonia Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox. “At the end of the day, Mr. Tonelli was the clear choice. We’re excited to have him coming onboard. We look forward to him joining us July 1.”

Tonelli was approved at the latest Board of Education meeting on a traditional four-year probationary appointment. He is professionally certified as a School District Leader and in English Grades 7-12. His salary for the 2025-2026 school year will be $120,000.

“I appreciate everybody giving me their vote of confidence and making me feel welcome already,” Tonelli said.

The next meeting of the Fredonia Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at 6 p.m. in the High School Library, including a public hearing regarding the 2025-2026 school budget.