The Tuckahoe Common School District is interviewing for a new superintendent this week in the hopes of filling the position as soon as possible in light of Interim Superintendent-Principal Brian McCarthy’s announcement last week that he will not continue in his role for one more year, as had been expected.
“This very difficult decision was made in the best interest of the community, parents, students and staff. Recently, personal and family issues arose which needed attention, thus forging my decision,” Mr. McCarthy said in a prepared statement at a work session of the School Board on June 28.
He did not return requests for comment before deadline.
The School Board had announced in May that it was extending the interim administrator’s contract through June 30, 2011, to help stabilize the district after the School Board’s ouster of previous superintendent Linda Rozzi and had temporarily suspended its superintendent search until the fall.
In the meantime, Tuckahoe had applied through the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services for a one-year waiver from the New York State Education Department that would allow Mr. McCarthy to continue in his post for one more year.
The retired administrator had initially stepped into the interim role in January on a six-month state waiver set to expire June 30, 2010.
Mr. McCarthy is expected to continue in his role until his replacement is hired. He will continue at his per diem rate, which is $750, according to Gary Bixhorn, chief operating officer for Eastern Suffolk BOCES.
The three-member Tuckahoe School Board—Robert Grisnik, who was named chairman at the district’s reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Sharon Grindle, the previous chairwoman, and newcomer Daniel Crough—planned to meet with a volunteer committee of parents, community members, teachers and administrative, secretarial and custodial staff on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week to interview three finalists who emerged from a pool of eight candidates for the superintendent’s job. The candidates were selected by the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services in March before the search had been suspended.
Ms. Grindle explained that the new administrator will serve as a superintendent-principal until at least June 30, 2011, when current Assistant Principal Gail Ackerson’s contract expires. During the coming school year, Tuckahoe officials will discuss whether to split the superintendent-principal position, as it had once decided to do, or keep the two positions rolled into one.
Colleen Reynolds on Jul 7, 2010