Sources: Schools Superintendent Decision Delayed, Fanelli Promotion Unlikely

Members of Port Chester's Board of Education haven't made a decision on who will be the next superintendent of schools, and a public announcement on the hiring has been delayed.

Parents and teachers hoped for news on the much-anticipated decision at Thursday night's Board of Education meeting, but the vote won't be on the agenda for tomorrow night, according to several people familiar with the discussions.

Sources also say the board is unlikely to promote Assistant Superintendent Frank Fanelli, who has of a vocal section of the community. Fanelli, who has been employed with the district for 38 years, has been floated as since last year, when the district began looking for an interim superintendent.

A public announcement could be pushed back until the board's next meeting on June 29 if board members decide not to make an announcement in the meantime.

The superintendent search is Port Chester's second this year, after former Superintendent Donald Carlisle for a school district in New Jersey in January. Although Carlisle left with six months remaining on his contract, he until the Board of Education secured a replacement.

The board's vote to hire an interim at $120,000 for six months was controversial among parents and taxpayers. With a 3-2 vote in January, the board hired Thomas C. Elliott, former superintendent of the Pocantico Central School District in Mount Pleasant.

Community members even after the votes were tallied, and many pushed for the promotion of one of the district's two long-time assistant superintendents, Fanelli and Maura McAward.

Elliott's contract expires this month, and the interim superintendent said in February this summer. As a retiree, Elliott needed a waiver from the state Department of Education to take the interim position, and a second, long-term waiver is unlikely.

Fanelli is on that also includes Edward Kliszus, superintendent of schools in Hackensack, NJ, and Charles Khoury, who has been an administrator in Ardsley for three years.

But Fanelli does not have the support of three board members and a promotion to superintendent is unlikely, according to several sources. Two board members, Anne Capeci and Jim Dreves, have signaled support for promoting the long-time assistant superintendent.

Check back with Port Chester Patch for updates.

Follow Port Chester Patch!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PortChesterPatch

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PChesterPatch