The Vestal Board of Education is seeking a highly qualified educational leader to fill the position of Superintendent of Schools. The search process will be conducted over the coming months with the successful candidate beginning employment on July 1, 2016. This vacancy is due to the retirement of Mark LaRoach, who has successfully led the district for the last six years.
Mr. Jeffrey Ahearn, current assistant superintendent for finance, operations and personnel, was officially appointed as interim superintendent by the Board of Education on December 22, 2015. During the search process, he will serve the district in this capacity from January 1, 2016, until approximately July 1, 2016.
Your Input
The Board has engaged the consulting firm of Castallo and Silky to assist with the superintendent search process. While applications are being received, the Board is interested in soliciting input from various stakeholders on a profile for the new superintendent. A link to the online survey for this purpose is posted below, along with a memo with more information on the search process. Vestal Central School District staff, students and members of the community are encouraged to complete the survey in order to provide your thoughts about the new superintendent. This survey will be available until January 29, 2016. At its conclusion, the results will be compiled and a summary report provided to the Board of Education.
In addition to the online survey, the firm will be scheduling focus groups with faculty, support staff, administrators, students, parent group members and the community. An open invitation to join a focus group is scheduled for January 7, 2016, in Room 181 of the Vestal High School. A tentative schedule is posted below:
3:15 p.m. - Vestal Administrators Association
4 p.m. - Vestal Teachers Association
4:45 p.m. - Association of Vestal Schools' Paraprofessionals / Vestal Employees Association
5:30 p.m. - Community members
6:15 p.m. - Parents or Guardians
Schedule Overview
Initial interviews with the Vestal Board of Education for candidates are tentatively planned for March 2016, at which time the Board plans to narrow the field to three candidates who will be invited back in April 2016 for second-round interviews. The Board will invite five different committees to interview the three finalists and provide input. The five committees that will be formed will include faculty, administrators, support staff, paraprofessionals and the community. The Board anticipates offering the position to the successful candidate before the end of April 2016. Following the successful negotiation of a contract with the new superintendent, the Board anticipates making an appointment in mid-May 2016. We are expecting that our new superintendent will join us on or about July 1, 2016.
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