Superintendent turnover worries area school officials

The search for the Dolgeville Central School District’s next superintendent marks the third superintendent search Sandra Sherwood has led this year.

The processes have made Sherwood, who is the superintendent of the Herkimer-Otsego-Hamilton-Fulton BOCES, aware of some concern about the shorter tenures of area superintendents, she said.

“Since there are only 10 component schools in the Herkimer BOCES supervisory district, it seems that a 30% turnover in one year is high and atypical,” she said in an email.

Lynn Rhone recently resigned as superintendent of the Dolgeville school district, one of the component districts of the Herkimer BOCES. Rhone’s departure followed those of former Mount Markham Superintendent Paul Berry,who retired at the end of July, and Frankfort-Schuyler Superintendent Robert Reina, who will retire after the district fully transitions to a new leader.

While Reina has served in his position for nearly three decades, Berry retired after around 4.5 years of service while Rhone led the Dolgeville school district for two years.

“Statewide, superintendents are staying in one district for a shorter period than in the past with an average of only three to five years,” said Sherwood, who was chosen as the job search consultant for all three districts. “This is of great concern to me since the educational research shows that superintendents need to be in the district for five or more years before the district will see sustainable improved outcomes for the students.”

Two of Sherwood’s three searches have since concluded.

In April, Mount Markham announced that Joseph D’Apice was chosen the district’s new superintendent. Meanwhile, Joseph Palmer was announced in May as Frankfort-Schuyler's new leader.

School officials expect the Dolgeville superintendent search to take at least a few months.

Sherwood said helping the school boards find the “right leader” is important to having these type of outcomes. She said she tells boards that choosing a new superintendent is one of the most important decisions they will make.

“We have to work together to get the best candidate and then ensure they have the support necessary to be successful and stay with the district for a long career,” she said. “This type of stability is good for the staff, the students, and the community at large.”