NEWFANE: School board fills two positions

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:olenickj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Joe</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

NEWFANE June 25, 2008 01:14 am

— Two positions that were originally one have been filled in the Newfane School District.
Tuesday the Board of Education appointed Peter Young as the principal of the Newfane Early Childhood Center and the director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and technology. Sharon Smith was appointed as the assistant principal of the Newfane Early Childhood Center, the chief information officer and in charge of grants.
“I’m very proud to recommend Pete for this position,” said Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski. “He’s one of our own. All of his training that he is receiving as part of his Ph.D. program will help us immensely.”
Young’s appointment is effective July 1 and his salary will be $89,549 for the upcoming school year. Smith’s appointment is also effective July 1, and she will have a salary of $75,289 for the 2008-09 school year.
During the budget process for the 2008-09 school year, both positions were originally intended to be one. The position was split into two jobs because the workload would have been a lot for one person.
Young had been the assistant principal at Newfane High School for about four years. Before that he was a teacher in Newfane for about 13 years. While a teacher, he also coached track and basketball. There is one thing Young said he is looking forward to about his new job.
“Getting back to focusing on teaching and instruction,” he said.
The board also appointed Newfane Middle School assistant principal Tom Stack to interim assistant principal at the high school until Aug. 31, or until a permanent appointment is made. Stack will earn a stipend of $313.70 per day. Stack’s current position is a ten-month, ten-day position, which allows him to have time in the summer to hold the position at the high school.
In other board news, the Newfane district will have its annual reorganizational meeting tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. July 8 at the Early Childhood Center, 6048 Godfrey Road in Burt.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick
at 439-9222, ext. 6241.