POPLAR RIDGE - Presiding over his first Southern Cayuga school board meeting since he agreed to return, Larry Hayes signed a contract with the district at Monday night's meeting.

The contract formalizes Hayes' agreement to serve in the position for Southern Cayuga schools until the district appoints a new schools chief.

Hayes, who'd temporarily served at the helm prior to former superintendent Thomas Turck's February hire, took time to thank the board for asking him back. He also acknowledged school officials who attended the meeting for taking him through inspections of the current facilities.

The district continues to advance in its superintendent search. Board members met Monday night with representatives from Leaderfind, the executive search firm hired to scout out candidates for the post.

“We've got a significant amount of applications at this point,” said school board President Theodore Rejman. The application process will close Aug. 18, and Leaderfind officials are scheduled to reconvene with the board Sept. 11. As the list of candidates solidifies, the district plans to convene members of the school and the larger community in committees to narrow the search.

In other news:

€ Four members, including Board Vice President Michelle Dean, opposed the appointment of a recommended candidate for tax collector during the 2006-07 school year. Dean was joined in opposition by members Jim Wilcox, Leonard Jordan and Dean Winspear. Rejman declined to discuss the issue, referring to it as a personnel matter. The district plans to readvertise the position.

€ Rejman updated members on progress toward establishing a partnership between the district and Wells College. A partnership could offer the college classroom space in the district, as its enrollment grows, in exchange for securing advanced placement or college credit classes for Southern Cayuga students. Rejman said the college is forming a committee.

€ Jordan said he'd spoken to the parent of a home-schooled student, who complained about communication issues with the school district. Parents of home-schooled students also requested, through Jordan, a list of the book series the district currently uses, by grade and content area.

€ Members followed approval of surplus items with discussion around an upcoming auction Aug. 26. The auction will likely take place in the main building's agriculture wing, with the time to be announced. Dean Winspear moved to donate one item, a bread mixer, to the Future Farmers of America's Camp Oswegatchie in Croghan.

Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at (315) 253-5311, ext. 235, or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net