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Pelham School Board To Hire Interim Superintendent

PELHAM, N.Y. – The Pelham Board of Education unveiled its plan to find a replacement for Dennis Lauro, who is retiring in December, and has determined that it will be necessary to hire an interim superintendent. 

The selection of an interim candidate would take place “sometime in the next few months,” Board President Robert Eicher said at Tuesday's meeting.

“Better sooner than later,” he said. “Currently, we’re trying to develop a candidate pool with resources that we have in front of us and what we’re looking for in an interim.”

As for the new superintendent, the board contacted “a variety of different folks on which firms are being used these days,” and selected seven firms, both national and local. The board is hoping to submit request for proposals to those firms this week to determine the cost of a search for a new superintendent.

“We are requesting proposals from a number of search firms and hope to select one by the end of June,” said Eicher. “The board and community will then work with the selected search firm to identify the qualifications and qualities we want.”

This public process would continue to the fall, when final candidates will take part in a community forum where stakeholders can have “further input in the decision-making process,” he said.

“We are aware the Pelham community wants a thorough search to find the best candidate,” Eicher said.

The board discussed the adopted 2012-13 budget because the meeting was also a public budget hearing.

In order for the $65,560,607 budget to be passed on May 15, it must receive a 50 percent plus one approval from Pelham and Pelham Manor voters. If the budget, which has a 2.6 percent tax levy increase, fails then the district may resubmit the original budget or a revised budget to voters on June 19 or adopt a contingent budget with a zero percent tax levy increase.

If the budget were to fail June 19, the board must adopt a contingent budget with a zero percent tax levy increase. “The impact of a failed budget vote could result” in a $1.4 million reduction in expenses, the board said.

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