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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.
WORKING ON DETAILS
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."
NORTH COUNTRY ROOTS
In an interview Thursday, Richards, 51, expressed delight in a pending return to the North Country.
He grew up in the Massena-Potsdam area, not far from Lake Placid and hiked the Northville trail through the High Peaks as a Boy Scout.
"I'm a North Country boy," Richards said. "My wife, Lori, and I are excited to join the community and the district.
"The interview process was a very tough but very fair process. It was great to listen to the people at the interview table. The first interview was with 25 people. The care and concern for that district came through early on."
Richards has two grown children: a 26-year-old daughter and a 27-year-old son, both living in the Myrtle Beach area.
"My daughter, Katie, is a registered nurse, and my son, Derek, is employed at Margaritaville and is also a professional dog breeder."
IMPRESSED
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 Richards 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."
'TRUE GENTLEMAN'
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."
Richards said he does love music and that spinning tunes is something he still does for friends and family.
"I have too many hobbies, and that's one of them. Believe it or not, I play drums in the band. I've also lifted weight and run a little bit."
He says they are looking forward to joining in to support Lake Placid's many and varied community events, not far from where he grew up.
"You'll see us around the community quite a bit. It's kind of funny how life circles around."
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
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