ELIZABETHTOWN — Cheryl Hutchins will switch her teacher’s hat to that of interim principal at Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School this fall.
Her appointment by the School Board is a three-month special assignment, Sept. 1 through Nov. 30. She will be paid a $100 daily stipend on top of her regular wages, according to Interim Superintendent A. Paul Scott.
Hutchins is not only qualified for the post but also holds the appropriate certifications, he said.
As well, he said, “she has a depth of familiarity with the students here — many were her students in grades three or four.
“(And) she’s certainly very well respected among the faculty and in the community.”
SUBSTITUTE SOUGHT
For the time being, Hutchins fills the shoes of departing Principal Jennifer Bull, who has taken the position of director of special services at Ticonderoga Central School.
“Jennifer has been very much appreciated here,” Scott said. “Certainly, there’s a level of regret (over her departure) because she wore multiple hats” and did a fine job as principal.
The district seeks to hire a mid-length substitute to take over Hutchins’s fourth-grade class while she serves as principal.
Scott said the hope is to approve a candidate at the Aug. 29 board session.
Hutchins, he said, will remain in close contact with her substitute and her class during her three months as an administrator.
COMBINED POSTS
The three-month assignment gives the School Board time to hire someone for the post of superintendent/principal, a combined position just recently approved by the New York State Education Department.
The application deadline is Sept. 10, with interviews slated for the week of Sept. 24 and then, for a final round, in early October. It is hoped the post will be filled by Dec. 1, Scott said.
Until that time, he will remain interim superintendent, a position he took after the sudden retirement of Gail Else in June.
It was with her departure that the School Board looked into combining the superintendent and building-principal positions.
‘A GOOD START’
Hutchins’s duties will include day-to-day matters such as interacting with students, staff communications, parental-contact matters and instructional oversight for grades kindergarten through 12.
Scott met with her recently to help bring her up to speed.
“I’ve been very pleased with how she’s already preparing for the school year,” he said. “We seem to be off to a good start.”
POLICIES UPDATED
The ELCS Board will meet next at 7:30 a.m. today to confirm tax rolls and set the tax levy for the 2012-13 school year. And at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, a special session will take place to act on filling instructional-program and support-staff vacancies, among them the fill-in for Hutchins. Board meetings are open to the public.
Aug. 9 action also included updates on such policies as civility; equal opportunity and nondiscrimination; student-harassment and bullying prevention; and concussion management in physical-education classes a
nd sports programs.
School districts around the region have been doing the same.
“I credit the Elizabethtown-Lewis School Board with advancing district policy on a timely basis,” Scott said.
The updated Code of Conduct will be handed out to students and staff early in the school year, he said.
Email Suzanne Moore:
smoore@pressrepublican.com
