The Jamestown Public Schools District, the Clymer Central School District and the Bemus Point Central School District entered the 2020-21 school year with permanent superintendents employed under contract, but by at least next school year each will have someone new at the helm. In contrast, the Pine Valley Central School District and the Dunkirk City School District entered the fall with interim superintendents and have since found their replacements.

Clymer’s head position has been an unknown since September when former Superintendent Ed Bailey resigned. Since then, Karen Krause, interim superintendent, was appointed and is leading the transition to the next permanent superintendent. She previously served as interim superintendent in the Ripley Central School District as Ripley officials conducted their own search in 2018.

Recently, the Jamestown Public Schools and Bemus Point Central School districts were informed its superintendents would be moving on as well. Dr. Bret Apthorpe in Jamestown announced his retirement effective in June and Michael Mansfield in Bemus Point took a superintendent position in the Dunkirk City School District effective in April, concluding its own search that began in July.

At Pine Valley, the board appointed Superintendent Bryna Moritz-Booth, who previously served as a Sherman principal. That position became available after former Superintendent Scott Payne resigned last school year to take a job at BOCES.

In the Chautauqua Lake Central School District, Ben Spitzer, superintendent, recently announced his retirement. The Chatauqua Lake Central School Board of Education appointed Josh Liddell, secondary principal, as Spitzer’s replacement with a three year contract. The district will now look to fill its impending principal vacancy at the end of the school year.

CLYMER

The Clymer Central School Board of Education appointed Erie 2-BOCES Superintendent David O’Rourke as Clymer’s superintendent search consultant at a January regular meeting. O’Rourke previously assisted the school district in its recent interim superintendent search, which resulted in the appointment of Krause. He also assisted Ripley in the 2018 superintendent search, which resulted in the appointment of William Caldwell, a former Frewsburg principal.

The Clymer board indicated last year that it would explore options of potentially sharing a superintendent with one of its neighboring school districts, either with Panama Central or Sherman Central schools. However, Sherman and Panama representatives indicated that the school districts were interested in sharing programs and services but not superintendents.

Clymer previously shared the services of Panama Superintendent Bert Lictus until he returned to his sole position at Panama in 2018, which followed a failed merger attempt between the two school districts that ended after a straw vote was disapproved by the Clymer community in November 2017.

Krause noted at a recent budget workshop meeting that board members were still preparing the employment search with O’Rourke.

The district recently posted a brochure about the search process on its website. Regarding a potential superintendent, the board “seeks a passionate leader who is deeply committed to the success of all students. This outstanding educator will have the ability to bring together the entire school community to achieve excellence. The board seeks a strong instructional leader who will be visible throughout the district, and whose personal commitment will lift up the climate and culture of the district. In particular, understanding of, or experience with, rural communities is desired. Candidates who are good communicators, with demonstrated skills engaging faculty, staff and school community are encouraged to apply.”

The brochure also notes that the board, depending on a candidate’s experience, is willing to offer a three-year contract with a salary up to $150,000 with an appropriate benefit package.

BEMUS POINT

Barry Swanson, board president, said at the time of Mansfield’s announcement that a special meeting would be scheduled for the board to discuss its options, which was held Wednesday. The board entered into executive session without taking any action.

One possible option Swanson previously discussed was appointing an interim superintendent for the period of time between Mansfield’s departure and a permanent appointment.

The board held a special meeting Wednesday, but Swanson said it “was an executive session to discuss personnel and negotiations and there is nothing that can be reported.”

However, Swanson said the board “is researching options for both an interim superintendent and firms to assist our district with the search for our new superintendent.”

Mansfield was hired in 2013, the same year the district began a capital construction project that resulted in the addition of the new gym. Mansfield’s last day is April 17 before he moves on to Dunkirk.

Dunkirk agreed to a separation agreement with its former Superintendent James Tracy in July and has since operated with an interim superintendent. Mansfield said applications for the position were due by December and said that he found out he was one of the finalists.

“Dunkirk had an opening so they had reached out through their search to inquire about my interest so I applied and through the process it turned out we had a very strong fit in terms of my background and skills in what they were looking for as their new superintendent,” Mansfield previously said.

JAMESTOWN

In Jamestown, the board of education approved a contract with the consultant New York State Leadership Group while Apthorpe will see out the remainder of the current school year. Jamestown School Board President Paul Abbott noted that Apthorpe said he’s made himself available after June 30, Apthorpe’s resignation date, if a candidate has not been selected by that time.

Abbott said the consultant was also used in the previous superintendent search that resulted in Apthorpe’s hiring in 2017. During that search, the board was satisfied with all three finalists before unanimously choosing Apthorpe, Abbott said.

“I don’t want to bound the board to an exact timeline in exchange for the integrity of the process,” Abbot previously said. “That’s the most important thing. Timeline is important, but the right process is most important. We really got to get it right.”

Separate from the superintendent search, four JPS principals recently announced their retirement as part of an incentive program through