(Photo Source: Marathon Central School District Website).
The Marathon Central School District Board of Education (BOE) met June 22 to honor this year’s retirees, handle end of the year business, and fill the recent vacancies left by the BOE president and superintendent.
Fond Farewells
The district is saying goodbye to 15 faculty and staff members this year. Colleen Brown, Roberta Chase, and Thomas Mullins each dedicated over 30 years to the district.
Joining the 30-year staff members in retirement are Lisa Leber, Barb Pitcher, David Taft, Cindy Whitney, Gerri-Ann Hartnett, Kathy Gerber, Robin Quail, Diane Rutan, Dorothy Sturdevant, Rosanne Russell, Michelle Rundle, and Jackie Whitmore. Each of the retirees spent between 7-to-26 years enriching Marathon students.
Marathon is also losing five BOE members as the school year comes to a close, including student ex-officio member Kate Anderson, who has completed her one-year term and will be succeeded by Audrey Jasper. BOE member Rob Depuy is leaving after serving 9 years on the board, and member Denis Niggli leaves behind a three-year tenure after losing his reelection bid this May.
Also departing is MCSD superintendent Rebecca Stone, who recently announced her resignation after 11 years with the district. BOE president Rebecca Edsall, who served on the board for 10 years, announced her resignation after the May elections took place.
Special Election
It was determined by the BOE that the most appropriate way to fill the vacancy left by Edsall would be a special election. The election will be held on Aug. 17 from noon to 9 p.m. at the CSE Office at Marathon High School (this is the same polling location for Marathon’s other district votes).
The BOE will make several public announcements throughout the month of July and into August, which will include details on how to obtain absentee ballots for those that require them. Following the election on Aug. 17, the new board member will be sworn in on August 24, and will serve only the remainder of what would have been Edsall’s term.
Superintendent Search
With the departure of Stone, the BOE is left to determine how to go about finding her replacement. Part of their partnership with BOCES gives the board the option to employ the services of OCM BOCES superintendent Dr. Matthew Cook, who presented his process for finding a suitable match for Marathon. Cook explained that the first main decision to make is whether to use an open search or a confidential/closed search, as each approach tends to yield a different pool of candidates.
Upon hearing Cook’s presentation, the board elected to accept his assistance in the search and hiring process, and also expressed their intention to pursue an open search. Cook’s services are of no cost to the district, and if the board is not satisfied with the candidates presented they have the ability to pursue other avenues as well.
