Malverne Extends Superintendent Hunderfund's Contract

Superintendent James Hunderfund, Ed.D. is completing his eighth year at the helm of leadership for the Malverne School District.

At the Nov. 18 Board of Education meeting, the trustees voted to extend Dr. Hunderfund’s contract for two additional years, taking him through June 30, 2017.

“Dr. Hunderfund is a true professional whose insight, experience and vision have proven invaluable to this community,” Board President Josephine Bottitta said. “Under his leadership, this district has seen more recognition, more advancement for students, greater financial stability, and significant continuity in all levels of administration than ever before.”

It was Dr. Hunderfund’s recommendation that sought reorganization of the educational structure so that all students would be integrated into a common learning experience for K-12. During his tenure, the community experienced its first successful passage of a bond in decades, which provided a much-needed boost of $14.5 million in state-aided capital improvements and additional classroom space to both elementary schools, as well as a state-of-the-art athletic complex with a turf field, tennis and basketball courts, and a new soccer/lacrosse field at the high school.

More Malverne school news:

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• Malverne Student Awarded Diversity Essay Prize

Through Dr. Hunderfund’s vision and leadership, an academic resurgence began in the Malverne schools. Notable academic achievements include: a 500-percent increase in Advanced Placement enrollments; national recognition of the high school as an AP School of Excellence; national ranking among the top 10 percent of high schools from the Washington Post and Newsweek; the creation of a gifted and talented program through charter membership in the Doshi STEM/Engineering program at BOCES; an increase in college acceptances for more than 90 percent of graduates and annual scholarships in excess of $5 million; successful annual budget votes and the adoption of a districtwide character education program for K-12 students.

“I am grateful to the Malverne Board members who have given me this opportunity to continue our work together,” Dr. Hunderfund said. “This is a unique community with talented students, committed teachers and supportive parents who all come together to raise the bar of education. It has been a privilege to serve as superintendent here, and I’m honored to be part of the pride.”

“As a small district, I believe we are incredibly fortunate to have a superintendent with Jim’s broad experience,” said Board President Bottitta. “When leadership is stable good things continue to happen.”