By KIM SMITH DEDAM
LAKE PLACID — School Board officials here offered the top school administrator’s post to Dr. Randy Richards.
“We’re pleased to announce we made an offer to Dr. Richards,” said School Board Vice President Phil Baumbach, who chaired the Search Committee.
“We are looking forward to working with him throughout the next three years.”
Richards is principal at Charles E. Riley Elementary School in the Oswego City School District and comes to Lake Placid with superintendent experience, Baumbach said.
A final contract with Richards is in the works.
“We did offer him $125,000,” Baumbach said.
“He would start July 1. The contract is still being worked on, and if he accepts our offer, at the next board meeting we will make it official.”
The decision to hire Richards came after a series of visits last month by three finalists chosen from a field of 25 applicants.
“He chatted with administration and staff, and we had some real positive feedback from them,” Baumbach said.
“He impressed the School Board.”
Interim Superintendent Ernest L. Witkowski considers the hire is a good fit.
“The board is very comfortable — I’m very comfortable — with Randy Richards of his character and his educational qualifications. He is the best choice for the job.”
Richards was in a meeting Thursday morning, but Oswego City School spokesman Bill Foley said their Riley School principal is a team player.
“He is a true gentleman, a pure professional. He’s a team player. He loves his kids; he’s involved with his kids. He runs a disc-jockey service on the sides, and DJs some of the school events for kids,” Foley said. “He loves music and collects records — I think he has a lot of vinyl.
“He’s cooperative. He’s been tremendous to work with, and I’m going to miss him.”
The hire ends a year of transition, following the departure of John Donnelly, Jr. last July after only a year on the job.
E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:
kdedam@pressrepublican.com
