JOHNSTOWN — The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education continued its search for an interim district superintendent Monday.
The board conducted a special meeting at Johnstown High School, in effect a closed-door executive session in the Administrative Conference Room.
Board President Christopher Tallon on Tuesday said the board took no action, but did interview for an interim district superintendent to replace outgoing Superintendent Patricia Kilburn.
“The process is still ongoing,” said Tallon.
The board president declined to say whether more than one candidate was interviewed Monday night. He also didn’t say whether the board will take any action on the interim superintendent position at its next regularly scheduled meeting. That session is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at JHS.
Kilburn, a Caroga Lake resident who has served as Johnstown superintendent since 2017, was named July 29 by the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES District as its new superintendent and CEO, effective Sept. 30. She will be earning $164,000 annually overseeing a BOCES for 12 component school districts in that region. Her resignation from the Johnstown district is effective Sept. 29.
Tallon said at a previous board meeting his personal hope was the district doesn’t hire someone immediately associated with the Johnstown school system. The board ultimately decided to work through the area BOCES to help secure a long-term interim superintendent, potentially as long as for a couple of years. If that person can’t be hired, the board decided a shorter-term interim may do.
Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent and former HFM BOCES Interim Superintendent Anita Murphy has been assisting the district recently.
Board members have discussed securing a person to start the new 2019-20 school year, which begins Sept. 4, but then looking for a more stable long-term interim superintendent. The board also discussed possibly finding an interim who can help with the district’s ongoing fiscal difficulties, which include double-digit tax levy increases, positions cut, and having to solicit donations to pay for athletics.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected].
