A new finance and operations director has been hired by the Austin Public School District to replace long-time employee Lori Volz.

Mark Stotts, business manager of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, has been hired effective Oct. 26 at an annual salary of $123,000. He was employed at Burnsville for at least three years, and prior to that, worked at Albert Lea Public Schools for about 12 years.

Volz’s resignation is effective Oct. 17; however, her last day at work was Monday. A resident of rural Blue Earth, she took a similar position with Albert Lea Public Schools, where she begins next Monday. She was employed in Austin schools for more than 11 years, and said the new opportunity will allow her to be closer to her children’s school activities in Blue Earth.