BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
The search for a Superintendent
at Cooperstown Central
School has been narrowed
down to four finalists.
According to Mary Leonard,
board of education vice
president, the finalists will be
interviewed by seven committees
beginning next week.
The seven committees include
non-represented secretarial
staff, faculty, non-instructional
staff, community,
supervisors, students, and the
administrative team.
Each of the full-day finalist
interviews will conclude
with dinner and an interview
with the board of education.
Leonard said members of
the committees will provide
input to board members,
who will make the ultimate
decision.
According to Leonard,
there are about 10 community
members that will
participate in the selection
process.
Anyone interested in
learning more about how the
search is being conducted
should visit the district’s website,
www. cooperstowncs.
org, added Leonard.
Leonard said the search
process is going as scheduled
and board members
anticipate being able to offer
the position to a successful
candidate by April 2.
The district chose Alan Pole,
a consultant with Castallo &
Silky, to assist in the selection
of Superintendent Mary
Jo McPhail’s replacement.
McPhail has been with CCS for
12 years and will be retiring
on June 30.
According to a memorandum
sent out to the CCS
community by BOE President
Anthony Scalici, the board
anticipates making an appointment
on or about April
28 following the successful
negotiation of a contract with
the new superintendent.
``We are expecting that the
new superintendent will join
us in Cooperstown on July 1,’’
said Scalici in his memorandum.
According to Scalici, the district
considered three options
for replacing McPhail, which
included conducting its own
search, using a consultant or
going through the Otsego
Northern Catskills BOCES.
Scalici said although going
with a private consultant is
the most expensive choice, he
believes was the best option.
According to the consulting
agreement the search will cost
$15,000 plus expenses.
Earlier in the school year,
the district posted a survey on
its website so people could
rate how important various
attributes or characteristics of
the next superintendent are
to them.
