Former Bayport-Blue Point School Superintendent Anthony Annunziato didn't leave the district because he wasn't happy. He left for a new challenge and the role of superintendent at the Smithtown Central School District offers exactly that scenario.
"In my career I look for challenges. Bayport was a great challenge, I love it there, I didn't leave because I wasn't happy," he said. "At some point in your career it's time for change, it's time for a new challenge. Smithtown was the only place I applied to, I wanted to come to a bigger district, it has a great reputation."
Annunziato, a self-proclaimed perennial optimist, said the first step in being the best superintendent for Smithtown he could be is to become another member of the district.
"I think the most important thing is to immerse myself in the culture of Smithtown," he said.
, a number that is 6.8 percent more than the $242,550 he made at Bayport-Blue Point in his last and seventh year as school chief, and roughly $40,000 more than the $219,555 Ehmann takes home, according to an April Newsday report [subscription required].
One challenge Annunziato is prepared to take on is how to communicate with not only the district staff but the parents of the community.
"I think that school districts are basically the same, but how do you operate a larger district? How do you operate communicate?" he said. "I think that's one of the things that led me to come to Smithtown is the challenge of running a bigger school district, trying to make a difference in a bigger school district."
Another issue Annunziato said he is prepared to take on is something often criticized by Board of Education meeting attendees – transparency.
"Transparency is in many ways harder than not being transparent," he said. "I would rather make an arguement from the standpoint that I have been completely transparent whether you agree with it or not."
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