The Skaneateles CSD Board of Education has begun the process for finding an interim district superintendent by consulting with the head of the regional BOCES to learn how and when to start the transition.

The need for an interim superintendent is due to the May 4 resignation of current Superintendent Phil D’Angelo, who has accepted a position in the Wantagh Union Free School District on Long Island, and will leave Skaneateles effective June 30. The school board officially accepted D’Angelo’s resignation at the May 15 meeting.

Board President Evan Dreyfuss previously said the BOE would most likely hire an interim superintendent to lead the district while the search D’Angelo’s permanent successor was underway.

“You’re at a very early stage,” Bill Speck, district superintendent of Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, told the BOE at its May 15 meeting. “The main thing is to take this on your terms; move slowly; move deliberately. This is not a panic time.”

Speck, who said he currently has three other districts within the BOCES system transitioning to a new superintendent, attended the Skaneateles BOE meeting at Dreyfuss’ request to inform the board and answer questions on how to move forward in its upcoming process.

Speck listed a number of issues he said the board should start considering, beginning with the duration of time they intend the interim superintendent to stay on, whether a matter of months or a full year. That issue alone will “have an impact” on which people will be interested in the job, Speck said.

“Some people have already contacted me [about the position], but they are all asking about the duration of the interim,” Speck told the board.

The board also needs to decide on the salary range they intend to offer the interim, the number of candidates they will consider interviewing, the procedures for the interview process and who will be the point person in the district to coordinate with the BOCES offices, Speck said.

In answer to board member questions, Speck said the average payment for an interim superintendent was $500 to $600 per day, while the average duration of an interim period differs with every district depending on their needs and wants.

The important thing, Speck said, was to find an interim superintendent that was a “good match” for the district, so the hiring process for a permanent superintendent would go smoothly.

Also at the May 15 meeting, the board:

—Unanimously approved the request of the high school Spanish department for a study abroad trip to Spain during the Thanksgiving recess.

—Honored the cast and crew of the High School Drama Club’s recent “Phantom of the Opera” performance with certificates of excellence. The cast also performed two scenes from the play for the BOE, both of which were received with standing ovations from the board members and those in the audience.

—Discussed at length a proposal to create a combined boys hockey team with Marcellus. District Athletic Director Stacey Tice said the boys hockey Coach Mitch Major felt the “time might be right” to consider such a combination even though the Skaneateles team does not need to combine with another school district in order to have enough players to exist. Marcellus players next year will not be able play on the Corcoran combined team as they have in years past, and to allow them in Skaneateles would be to be a “good neighbor,” Tice said. Such a combination would have to be approved annually by the board.

Most of the board members were uncomfortable with the idea, however, being concerned that Skaneateles players ultimately could be excluded, cut or benched from a team season in favor of Marcellus players. “When we exclude a child we are failing them,” said board Member Thomas E. Lambdin. “I’m concerned about this.”

“We should not be cutting our own players to accommodate another school,” agreed board Member Kathryn Carlson.

After much discussion, the board took a straw poll of members that showed a majority did not favor the proposed combination hockey team. They took the vote so Tice would have an idea of their thoughts and their current inclinations on the proposal, and she and Major could further discuss and possibly refine the idea.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].