By Mark Boshnack
Replacements are forthcoming at two area school districts with retiring superintendents, officials said.
Harpursville High School Principal Glenn Hamilton has been named to the spot at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, said Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego District Superintendent Alan Pole, who assisted with the search. The contract hasn't been finalized, but an appointment is expected in June, effective Sept. 1. The salary range is $110,000 to $125,000.
Hamilton will replace Douglas Exley, who is retiring at the end of the school year. There are about 1,600 students at Harpursville and about 500 at G-MU.
Hamilton, 51, is a Harpursville native and has spent his professional career at the school. He started as a physical education teacher in 1981 and has been a principal since 1999.
But making the leap to superintendent has "always been a goal in my life," he said.
This was the perfect time, he said, with his daughter Kiersten graduating in June. He has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for 28 years. The couple also have a daughter, Kaitlyn, who is a junior in college.
"I have enjoyed all my years here," Hamilton said. "This is a great district and the staff is fantastic," but it was time to take on a new challenge.
"I really appreciated having the opportunity to see kids be successful," he said, not just in education but extracurricular events, such as music, drama and sports. He said he sees a lot of similarities between the districts, and "I think it is a perfect fit for me."
He wants to move into the district but in the current housing market, that could take a couple of years, he said.
Hamilton received his degrees from state University of New York at Cortland, with a Bachelor of Science in education in 1979 and a Master of Science in education in 1987. He received his educational administration certificate in 1999.
Margaretville appoints
Scotia administrator
At Margaretville Central School on Monday, the board appointed SUCO graduate Anthony Albanese, 55, effective July 1, said board president Al Tanzer.
Albanese, director of pupil personnel services at Scotia-Glenville Central School District, will replace John Riedel, who is retiring. Scotia has a student population of about 3,000, while Margaretville has about 475. The starting salary is $112,000.
"I like the small size of Margaretville," he said. "I enjoy working with students" and this will be easier to do in a smaller district, he said.
During the interview process, he was impressed by the people he met, he said. This included students who were "committed to the district and were looking to their future."
His goal is to have "as many opportunities as possible available to help them succeed not only in education but in life." At Scotia, he has had the opportunity to start programs, particularly for students with special needs. The programs helped provide academic support and emotional growth, he said.
Albanese said he is leaving behind many dedicated people at Scotia.
"I'll miss them," he said, though he is looking forward to the challenges that a new district will provide.
He is planning to relocate with his wife, Barbara. The couple have one son, Tim, who is a graduate of Hartwick College.
Albanese held his current position since August 2002. Before that, he was deputy executive director of education at Wildwood School in Schenectady since January 1989 and was principal at the school's young adult program since 1983, according to his resume.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, N.H., graduating in 1974, and a Master of Science degree from the State University College at Oneonta earned in 1976.
