Politics & Government

B-BP School Chief Search Pulls in 3 Dozen Resumes

BOE president explains hiring decision regarding interim leader in response to community feedback.

The search for a new Bayport-Blue Point School Superintendent has pulled in 36 prospective applicant resumes, which the board of education believes illustrates how well the district is regarded in the educational industry.

“I think it speaks very highly for our district as other districts searching have gotten as few as four applicants,” Board of Education President James March stated during the board work session meeting Tuesday night.

“We don’t feel pressure to rush into any decision and will use our best judgment on the search effort,” he said, noting that several applicants are from out of state and a few don’t boast the traditional school administrative experience typically seen on a superintendent’s resume.

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“It’s a diverse group,” he said, explaining that the search team, hired through BOCES and led by Eastern Suffolk BOCES COO Gary Bixhorn Gary Bixhorn, will cull through the applications and present the top candidates to the board.

The update on the school chief search came after March made a statement regarding the recent hiring of Neil Lederer as interim superintendent starting July 1.

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As Patch exclusively reported a week ago, Lederer has signed a one-year contract, with four months of guaranteed employment, at a per diem fee of $1,025. He is also serving as a consultant in July and August for the Three Village School District (TV), at a per diem fee of $800.

Lederer just completed a two-year full-time interim stint as TV's school chief.

March explained the board’s decision to hire Lederer, the stipulated per diem rate and said he wanted to clarify public perception about Lederer’s two per diem jobs.

“Just so we don’t get off on the wrong foot, I want to say that we had five names of candidates, two of which were not available and then conducted interviews with three,” said March. “It was obvious he [Lederer was the best candidate and we were aware he had other obligations.”

Lederer will work Monday through Wednesday in Bayport-Blue Point, and be available for consulting work in TV on Thursday and Friday during July. In August he will work four days in B-BP, as the district has a four-day summer schedule, and work Fridays in TV as needed.

“His [Lederer’s] integrity goes unquestioned and he is highly regarded,” said March, noting that the Three Village District’s science and research programs have blossomed during Lederer’s interim superintendent time.

Lederer, a retired superintendent, will leaves his interim TV post as of June 30 as a new superintendent has been hired for that district. He was salaried at $200,000 and did not receive benefits. In his interim role at Bayport-Blue Point he will not receive benefits, but is entitled to 10 paid sick days, five of which he is limited to in his first six months of employment.

In hiring Lederer March said the district will “be able to continue on the path the current administration has set forth while we search for a permanent. We’re grateful that Lederer is willing to be flexible and didn’t ask for a full contract for the job,” said March. Several other interim candidates would not agree to the one-year minimum contract opportunity, he said.

“We did our research on the going rate for interims,” noted March, who said the current rate for retired superintendent ranges between $1,000 and $1,200 a day.

During the public comment session Rita Palma, a Bayport resident, asked why the contract details and Lederer’s work for TV were not made public at the previous meeting when the board approved hiring Lederer.

“It was a mistake. We were not purposely trying to hide it,” said March.


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