Superintendent Search 2025

Proposed Timeline for the East Ramapo Superintendent Search Process

The timeline for the search process was established during the Phase I meeting with the Board on February 11, 2025, in order to address the unique needs of the district. However, the time from the McPherson & Jacobson consultants first meeting with the subcommittee until the finalist is selected is typically a minimum of two to three months.

Search sequence:

➢ Initial meeting with the Board Clerk and State Monitor

February 11, 2025

• The criteria for the new superintendent are established and position description approved
• A timeline is established
• Advertising decisions are made
• Stakeholder meetings – dates and groups to be confirmed
• Stakeholder groups identified
• K12 Insight online survey – dates to be determined
• Languages for online survey – English, Spanish, Yiddish, Haitian Creole

➢ ZOOM Stakeholder Meeting with Board Members and Legislators, Online Survey, In-person Stakeholder meetings

March 3, 2025 – March 6, 2025

• ZOOM stakeholder group meetings are conducted with Board Members and Legislators (dates and times to be determined)
• In-person Stakeholder meetings conducted – week of March 3, 2025
• Online survey activated week of March 3, 2025 
• A summary of stakeholder input is presented to the Ad Hoc Search Committee – week of March 17, 2025
• Stakeholder report to include results of the K12 Insight online survey sent to the Ad Hoc Search Committee and Board of Education by March 17, 2025

➢ Applications arrive in our office

        February 12, 2025 through closing date of March 20, 2025

• Applications are monitored and applicants are notified of the deadlines to submit materials
• Initial training and orientation held with Search Committee (before the end of February)

➢ After the closing date (Application closing date – March 20, 2025)

• All the completed applicant files are forwarded to the Search Committee
• The Search Committee reviews all applicant files

➢ Approximately two to four weeks after the closing date

         Late-March 2025

• The Board determines which applicants it wants to interview
• McPherson and Jacobson performs reference checks on all candidates who agree to be  interviewed
• Consultants will work collaboratively with the Board to develop interview questions
• Board conducts interviews and determines which candidates to select as finalists
• Criminal/financial/educational degree verification background checks are conducted on the finalists
• McPherson & Jacobson notifies each applicant not selected for an interview

➢ Soon after the Search Committee selects their candidates

• The semi-finalist interviews – Early April 2025
• Finalist interviews  - Mid – Late April 2025 (after Passover)
• The Board of Education selects their new superintendent Late April 2025
• McPherson & Jacobson’s consultants contact each candidate who was interviewed to notify them of their status

NOTE:  Start date for new Superintendent will be July 1, 2025.

 

The Community Input Survey closed at the end of the day on March 15, 2025. Thank you for your responses.

The Board is facing the most important task any school board ever faces - replacing its chief school officer. Meaningful input from the community is important, valued and appreciated. The Board of Education and the consultants invite the East Ramapo Central School District community to in-person Town Hall Meetings, and to participate in online surveys the first two weeks of March. This will assist the Board in establishing direction for the selection process for the new Superintendent of Schools. One or more of the consultants from McPherson & Jacobson, which has been engaged by the Board to assist with the search, will be facilitating the Town Halls.

In the interest of being as inclusive as possible, the following stakeholder meetings were created to invite all members of the East Ramapo Central School District community. Although student meetings are not listed, the consultants of MacPherson & Jacobson, who are assisting the Board of Education with the Superintendent search, are also meeting with student group representatives from Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School, union stakeholders and administrators. Should you not find a group with which you identify or times are inconvenient for you, please attend one of our four Community Stakeholder meetings, where all are welcome. Your feedback is important to us.

Dr. Karen D'Avino and Dr. Barbara Pinsak of McPherson & Jacobson look forward to working with you to help find the best candidate for your next Superintendent of Schools. 

The following are open meetings where all community members are welcome to attend any of the following meetings to give their input to the search consultants on the priorities for the search for a superintendent.

Monday, March 3, 2025 at Spring Valley High School, 361, Route 59, Spring Valley, NY 10977
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Auditorium
7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Auditorium

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at the Admin Building, 105 South Madison Avenue, Spring Valley, NY 10977
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., PLCC Room
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., PLCC Room

Emails have been sent directly to contacts at certain community organizations and groups. The following meetings are intended for those special interest groups:

Specific Stakeholder Sessions

Monday, March 3, 2025

11:00-11:45 a.m., NAACP, Administration Building, PLCC
12:00-12:45 p.m., Haitian Community, Administration Building, PLCC
1:00-1:45 p.m., Proyecto Faro, Administration Building, PLCC
4:45-5:30 p.m., PTA, SVHS Auditorium
5:30-6:15 p.m., Haitian Community, SVHS Auditorium
6:15-6:45 p.m., Proyecto Faro, SVHS Auditorium
6:45-7:30 p.m., Non-Public Rabbi Horowitz, SVHS Auditorium
 

March 4, 2025

1:00-1:45 p.m., NAACP, Administration Building, PLCC
2:00-2:45 p.m., PTA, Administration Building, PLCC
4:00-4:45 p.m., Non-Public, Administration Building, PLCC

Spring Valley High School, 361, Route 59, Spring Valley, NY 10977, Entrance Door from Student/Visitor Parking Lot
Admin Building, 105 South Madison Avenue, Spring Valley, NY 10977, Central Registration Door

 

Search Status Updates

January 21, 2025

• Contract approved by the board for the McPherson & Jacobson, LLC search firm to facilitate the search for a Superintendent 

February 11, 2025

• Initial meeting with the Board to finalize proposed search timeline and job description.
• Initial presentation to the community during the board meeting.

February 24, 2025

• Open community meetings dates and times announced.
• Emails inviting certain community contacts and groups sent
• Ads for the superintendent position have been placed.
• Emails inviting board members and legislators were sent.
• Community survey was created and is being tested before being released.

March 1, 2025
Online surveys opened in four languages
Surveys are open until March 15, 2025

March 3 &4 , 2025
Stakeholder input sessions:

• Students - SVHS and RHS
• Union representatives, non-public, Haitian, Proyecto Faro, PTAs, Cabinet
• Four open community sessions
• Zoom sessions - Interim Superintendent, Board members, State Monitors, Legislators, etc.

 

Position Description for East Ramapo Central School District Superintendent, Spring Valley, New York

The East Ramapo Central School District Board is seeking a highly qualified, honest, and collaborative Superintendent who will lead the district with integrity and serve as an advocate for public education.

About the East Ramapo Schools

The East Ramapo Central School District, located in Rockland County, New York, is an urban/suburban school district that serves over 41,000 students from 47 countries and various socio-economic backgrounds. The District serves students in the Towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown and Haverstraw. East Ramapo is designated by the New York State Education Department as a High Needs/Low Resource school district, and is committed to meet the multiple needs of its students, who are from varied backgrounds and cultures, and mostly from low-income level families.  The District is governed by a nine-member elected Board of Education.

The elementary level comprises nine schools.  There are four primary schools which serve students in Grades K-3, and one which serves Grades K-6.  Three intermediate schools serve Grades 4-6.   A STEAM Academy has students from Grades 4-8, and an Early Childhood Development Center serves most of the District’s Kindergarten students.

At the secondary level there are two middle schools with Grades 7-8  and two high schools Grades 9-12.

The Board wants the successful candidate to assume the responsibilities of the position on July 1, 2025.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development is engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the School Board in identifying and screening the candidates.

Enrollment: District serves approximately 41,000 students – 10,300 attend public schools, 2,400 in UPK and 30,100 attend private schools

Location: New York State – Approximately 30 miles Northwest of New York City, Rockland County

Salary:  Regionally competitive salary based upon experience and qualifications

The Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the skills, experience, and vision necessary for exceptional educational leadership. This includes setting high expectations, using data to drive decisions, and fostering a culture of accountability across the district. A dedicated leader who seeks a long-term commitment to the district to provide stability and continuity in leadership.  Experience as a superintendent in a diverse, suburban/urban district – to include classroom teaching experience and living in proximity to the district is preferred. A doctorate and a bi-lingual candidate in English/Spanish is preferred, and the candidate must hold or be eligible for New York State Superintendent certification.

The Board is seeking:

●       An educational leader committed to educational equity and student achievement with demonstrated experience in addressing disparities in educational opportunities, a strong focus on improving academic outcomes multilingual and special education students and a dedication to ensuring all students receive a high-quality education regardless of their background.

●       A candidate with strong financial and budgetary expertise with a proven track record of managing complex budgets, experience in financial oversight, resource allocation, cost cutting measures, securing additional funding and working with state agencies and also possesses a commitment to financial transparency and accountability.

●       A strong, transparent, approachable leader who fosters collaboration between diverse community groups through demonstrating effective communication skills to build trust with the board of education, parents, teachers, students and the entire school community.

●       An educational leader who has demonstrated the ability to manage crisis effectively, including financial challenges, public controversies, and school safety concerns.

●       A leader who has a demonstrated understanding of different cultures, ensuring inclusivity and effective engagement with the district’s diverse student and parent population.

School District Website:  https://www.ercsd.org

 McPherson and Jacobson Consultants:     

Dr. Karen D’Avino  k_davino@macnjake.com   
Dr. Ralph Ferrie      r_ferrie@macnjake.com
Dr. Barbara Pinsak b_pinsak@macnjake.com