Simmons To Serve as Interim HS Principal, BOE Will Explore Administrative Structure

Linda Simmons, principal of the , will serve as interim principal of the when Steve Forte leaves at the end of December. Meanwhile the and superintendent plan to explore what the district’s administrative structure should be as of July 1, 2012.

During this interim period of Jan. 1 to June 30, 2012 Simmons will still serve as the head of the middle school while also overseeing the high school, school officials announced Wednesday night.

Also during this interim period, teachers Joseph Mastropietro and Catherine Cassidy will both serve as interim assistant principals for grades 6 to 12. Josephine Ciocia, Board of Education president said Mastopietro and Cassidy will not teach during this time period and part-time replacements will be hired.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Porto told the audience during the BOE meeting Wednesday night that much consideration went into this as the board needed to find the best way to deal with the administration change in “an equitable and fluid manner without causing much disruption.” He added that this decision reflects what is best for the students during the interim period.  

Porto said the next step involves a major discussion as to what the administrative structure should be as of July 1 of next year.  He said they will do research and bring in data to see what has been successful in other districts. Once the administrative structure is in place they will begin to post to fill whatever positions may be available.

She had served as principal of for nine years prior.  Her 27-year career as an educator began in Elmwood Park where she taught language arts at the elementary school and middle school levels.

to take a superintendent position in Verona. He has been principal of the high school since Feb. 1 of this year. He had previously been director of curriculum and technology, a position which was eliminated when he became HS princpal. When Forte first came to the district in 2006 he served as principal of .