Lee superintendency offered to former Adams-Cheshire leader

LEE – A Berkshire County native has been offered the position as the new superintendent of Lee Public Schools.

The Lee-Tyringham Superintendency Union unanimously voted in favor of offering retired Adams-Cheshire Regional School District Superintendent Alfred W. “Al” Skrocki a contract as the district’s part-time superintendent.

“He’ll be minding the store,” said Lee School Committee Vice Chair Robert E. Lohbauer.

He will work three days a week for the district, earning a daily rate, according to Lee School Committee Chair Susan Harding, who is also a member of the superintendency union.

His contract is expected to last a year, although the school committee members indicated he was flexible, meaning it could be shorter if the committee chooses to look for another candidate or longer if he is a positive force for the district.

“He suggested a year, but he knows we’re in flux,” said Thomas A. Consolati, who is a member of both the superintendency union and the Lee School Committee.

No salary figures associated with Mr. Skrocki’s contract have been announced yet.

“The parameters we talked about are comfortable,” Mrs. Harding said. “Once the contract is signed, it becomes public knowledge, but it’s not something I’m worried about.”

Mr. Skrocki was superintendent of ACRSD for 14 years and retired in October 2012. In total, he spent more than 30 years in the district and still resides in the area.

“His resume consists of working in that school system for 3o-some years,” said Ed Nardi, who is a member of both the superintendency union and the Tyringham School Committee.

If a contract is approved, Mr. Skrocki will replace Jason P. “Jake” McCandless, who is leaving Lee on June 30 to become the new superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools on July 1.

Dr. Consolati told the other school committee members Dr. McCandless and Mr. Skrocki know each other through the superintendents’ roundtable, making for a smooth transition in the district’s leadership.

“[Mr. Skrocki] knows Jake very well,” Dr. Consolati said. “This comes with [Dr. McCandless’] full approval.”

The superintendency union previously voted to offer John “Jack” Rizzo of Honolulu a contract as interim superintendent. Contract negotiations fell through last month after the school committees realized massive insurance costs related to his planned retirement would add a “long-term insurance cost for a very short post” to the Town of Lee’s budget.

This cost is not an issue with Mr. Skrocki, who will continue to receive his retiree benefits.

“The financial equation is much more straightforward,” Dr. Consolati said.

However, he will need to receive permission from the retirement board to work as Lee’s part-time superintendent, which is expected to come through.

“We’re very lucky to have a local retiree willing to do this,” Mrs. Harding said.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on June 6, 2013. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry