ALLEGANY, N.Y. — The search for a new superintendent for the Allegany-Limestone Central School District has narrowed down to a handful of candidates, with the selection of a new leader expected in the near future, reported the school board at Tuesday’s meeting.

In his report, Dr. Joe Zimmer, school board president, said the district has completed its semi-finalists interviews and will complete the finalists interviews next week.

“We hope that we will have an offer (to make) by the end of the month,” Zimmer said. “That doesn’t mean that we will have somebody to name by the end of the month necessarily … but we have confidence in the process so far.”

Zimmer noted the search committee is also on schedule with the hiring process, which will replace former Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan, who resigned at the end of October to serve as superintendent of the Valhalla Union Free School District.

Interim Superintendent Mark Ward has been heading up the district the past several months until a replacement is found.

When asked how many finalists will be reviewed by the district, Zimmer would only say there were a handful of candidates who are still being considered for the post.

“Since it’s a closed search, I’d rather not give that information out,” Zimmer said in avoiding mentioning specifically how many candidates remain. He said the remaining candidates are both from the local and regional area.

“We have a process that guarantees confidentiality of the people involved,” he explained. “So I have to respect that, too. It’s not anything nefarious, it’s just a matter of keeping the integrity of the process.”

In other matters, the board heard an update on the $16.1 million capital project that will provide upgrades at both campuses. In reviewing the project, the committee has asked that an alternate for the upgrades would include the installation of an air conditioning system in the multi-purpose room at the elementary school. The large room, which also serves as the gymnasium, gets uncomfortably hot during community events and during the warm months of the year.  

In another change with the capital project, Ward said the district will also forego paving the lower parking lot at the middle/high school campus near the administrative offices.

“With the number of parking spots we have right now, we just don’t need more blacktop,” he stated. “We kind of backed it out of the capital project.”

Ward also told the board that the district is starting the process of creating the budget for the 2018-19 school year.

“Mike is well along the line in putting some of the numbers together,” Ward said of Mike Watson, business manager. Ward said a community budget meeting will be scheduled for the near future.

On a personnel matter, Ward said the district continues to advertise for four teaching positions that will be vacated through retirement. He said the district is also reviewing the grading system for students.

“I’m think you’re going to see some changes, it just depends how they’re going to flush out,” Ward said of grading. “There seems to be a consensus of not marking (a test) below 55. That means, if a kid gets a 30 (on a test) he will given a 55. I hope that comes to pass.”

Ward said Principal Cory Pecorella of the middle/high school campus, is also working on a revised schedule for students.

“There is a possibility of reducing a period, going from 10 to 9,” Ward said, explaining the 10th period is not used by some students for worthwhile purposes.