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Interim Superintendent John Williams is tapped for permanent post by Amityville School Board
"I think that the response we got for the position speaks well for this community," said School Board President Michelle Sikhrangkur who added that ten of the 40 applicants had previous central administration experience, and 19 had experience as superintendents in other school districts. "We believe that Dr. Williams has a tremendous amount of experience and a concrete history of being successful, even in difficult times," she said. For his part, Williams said he was gratified that the board extended the invitation to him to join Amityville on a permanent basis for two reasons. First, he said, the school board made its decision only after going through an extensive search that did not favor him because he was already in the district and, second, because he believes their decision was a "referendum on what I did during my four months here in Amityville." "Even though I was here for four months, that did not color their decision or impact on their pursuit to find the individual they believed would be best for the district," said Williams, who has a doctorate from Lehigh University. He served as Superintendent of Schools in Sewanhaka and Scranton school districts prior to coming to Amityville upon the retirement of former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian De Sorbe who retired in October, 2007. The school board eventually reduced the list of candidates to five and then to two: Williams and Dr. Jacqueline Cusack, an interim principal with the Montclair Public Schools. Board members visited the Montclair school district and Williams' former districts prior to making a final decision in order to see, first hand, the work they did and to interact with their current and former colleagues said Sikhrangkur. "It was not an easy decision, because they were both outstanding candidates who would fit well within this district," she said, Sikhrangkur said that the board believes that Williams is an educator who will unite the community and handle issues with staff in a firm, fair and effective way. "He has clear expectations about his job and everyone else's, and treats everyone professionally, while at the same time demanding accountability." In other school news:
•the school board accepted a donation from the Class of 1957 for the construction of a waterfall in the east courtyard of the high school. In photo below, Amityville High School Principal Dr. Scott Andrews, left, accepts the check from Ben Morselli of the Class of 1957.
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