Newfane school district superintendent search getting underway

Thomas Tedesco, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·2 min read

Apr. 29—Newfane Central School District is planning to appoint an interim superintendent while a search for a new superintendent gets underway.

The board of education will once again enlist the services of Anthony Day and the Western New York Educational Service Council in the search for a permanent superintendent, the same organization that assisted in the 2023 search that turned up Lisa Krueger.

"The board is confident in the services that Day and the Western New York Educational Service Council provides. We're confident we'll be able to identify the next great leader for our district," board president Santo Tomasine said.

Krueger will leave Newfane at the end of the school year and her appointment as superintendent of West Seneca schools will take effect July 1, less than a year after she took the superintendent's post in Newfane.

Since Krueger left the post less than a year after she was appointed, the organization will provide their services for this search at no cost, per a clause in the contract from the previous search process.

In a letter from the board of education that was sent out to district residents, the board said they plan to interview a slate of retired superintendents for the interim role.

That person will serve from the date of Krueger's departure on July 1 until a new superintendent is appointed.

Tomasine said the board plans to interview those candidates and appoint the interim superintendent after its May 21 meeting. It is anticipated the permanent superintendent will take over September 1.

As part of the search process, the board plans to convene a focus group composed of individuals representing the administrators, teachers, support staff and community members.

Preliminary interviews with the board and the group are planned to commence June 10. Finalist interviews are slated to start June 24.

"This group will have an opportunity to interview the semi-final candidates and offer feedback to the Board on their strengths, potential gaps or concerns and their overall ability to be successful in the position," the board of education's letter states.

Formal appointment of the new superintendent is anticipated in July.

The board is also soliciting input on the search from district residents.

The survey can be accessed through the district's website, https://www.newfane.wnyric.org.

They also encourage residents with questions about the process to contact Day at 716-923-6514 or wnyesc.execdir@gmail.com.