UNION SPRINGS - The school board has found another interim superintendent to replace current interim superintendent Jerome Melvin while it continues to search for a permanent leader.
James O. DeRusha, a retired superintendent from the Port Byron school district, will take over the temporary appointment until a decision is made between the final three candidates the board has chosen.
"I anticipate that at this Monday's meeting the board will be voting to accept Dr. Melvin's resignation, and appointing Jim DeRusha," board President Carol Quill said. "We'd like to have someone on board as soon as possible."
Melvin's last day is Feb. 27. DeRusha will begin March 1, and leave when a new candidate is able to begin.
Melvin decided to call it quits earlier than the school board had wanted.
The original appointment was supposed to last for a couple of months, but turned into eight months.
"I felt it was the right time to go," Melvin said, declining to elaborate.
He earned $425 per day in the position he began last July.
There were three serious issues Melvin had to tackle right away: the special education program, 10 teachers who had been teaching without certification, and a stalled $15 million renovation project.
"All the compliance issues with special ed have been met," Melvin said. "Everybody (of the 10 teachers) is now either fully certified or got a one-year extension, and the board has awarded contracts. There will be a construction meeting later this week, and construction should begin in late March, early April."
Having addressed the three issues he viewed as priorities, Melvin feels comfortable in leaving.
"I enjoyed working with the board and the teachers." Melvin said. "It is the right time for me to go."
The search has been narrowed to three candidates: David Parker, principal of A.A. Gates Elementary School in Port Byron; Linda Rice, principal of Weedsport Middle School, and Robert Roser, superintendent of the Greenwood School District in Steuben County.
"The board would like a new superintendent in the position as soon as possible," Quill said.
Quill said the candidates will meet with two committees, one of community members and the other of school members, during the first week of March.
Staff writer Shelly Oddo can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shelly.oddo@lee.net
"I anticipate that at this Monday's meeting the board will be voting to accept Dr. Melvin's resignation, and appointing Jim DeRusha," board President Carol Quill said. "We'd like to have someone on board as soon as possible."
Melvin's last day is Feb. 27. DeRusha will begin March 1, and leave when a new candidate is able to begin.
Melvin decided to call it quits earlier than the school board had wanted.
The original appointment was supposed to last for a couple of months, but turned into eight months.
"I felt it was the right time to go," Melvin said, declining to elaborate.
He earned $425 per day in the position he began last July.
There were three serious issues Melvin had to tackle right away: the special education program, 10 teachers who had been teaching without certification, and a stalled $15 million renovation project.
"All the compliance issues with special ed have been met," Melvin said. "Everybody (of the 10 teachers) is now either fully certified or got a one-year extension, and the board has awarded contracts. There will be a construction meeting later this week, and construction should begin in late March, early April."
Having addressed the three issues he viewed as priorities, Melvin feels comfortable in leaving.
"I enjoyed working with the board and the teachers." Melvin said. "It is the right time for me to go."
The search has been narrowed to three candidates: David Parker, principal of A.A. Gates Elementary School in Port Byron; Linda Rice, principal of Weedsport Middle School, and Robert Roser, superintendent of the Greenwood School District in Steuben County.
"The board would like a new superintendent in the position as soon as possible," Quill said.
Quill said the candidates will meet with two committees, one of community members and the other of school members, during the first week of March.
Staff writer Shelly Oddo can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shelly.oddo@lee.net
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