Pelham UFSD opens search for Siwan High School principal after Fareed Johnson resignation; board approves travel policy and routine year-end items

PELHAM, N.Y. — The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on June 30 accepted the resignation of Fareed Johnson as principal of Siwan High School and authorized a district-led search for his replacement, the board said during a brief, end-of-year business meeting.

The board named Susan Kramer Gilbert to continue as interim principal while the district conducts a multi-step hiring process described by Dr. Fitzgerald, who told the board the district will prioritize community input and aims to have a permanent principal in place as close to the start of the school year as possible. Dr. Fitzgerald said the process will include a leadership profile developed from a stakeholder survey, focus groups with families and staff, candidate tasks, and stakeholder interviews before cabinet and board review. She said the district will send a communication and the stakeholder survey to Siwan families and staff the next morning so data collection can begin quickly.

The changes follow routine end-of-year business. The board approved minutes and other consent-agenda items, extended vendor and service arrangements, updated building-use fees tied to the Consumer Price Index and authorized disposal of several district vehicles and equipment. The board also waived a third reading and approved Policy 6161, the district's conference travel expense reimbursement policy.

Why it matters: Leadership changes at a high school affect students, staff and families at the start of an academic year. The district described a multi-stage, stakeholder-driven selection process intended to inform a hiring rubric and candidate evaluation.

What the board did

- Accepted the resignation of Fareed Johnson, principal of Siwan High School, and confirmed that Susan Kramer Gilbert will serve as interim principal until a successor is appointed.

- Directed a comprehensive hiring process for the Siwan principal vacancy. As outlined by Dr. Fitzgerald, the steps include: creating a leadership profile from a stakeholder survey, convening family and staff focus groups, having candidates perform a task for stakeholders, meetings with parent/staff/administrator stakeholder groups, cabinet review and a final recommendation to the board. The district will send the survey to Siwan families and staff the morning after the meeting.

- Waived the third reading and approved Policy 6161, Conference Travel Expense Reimbursement.

- Approved routine consent-agenda items including meeting minutes (April 9, April 22, May 7 and May 21), annual appointments (attorney and auditor), continuation of BOCES-provided services, renewal of cooperative purchasing through Educational Data Services (EDS), extension of the bus company contract, adjustments to building-use fees based on CPI and disposal of older vehicles (a Suburban, a 2001 van and a tractor, per staff report).

- Approved personnel recommendations as presented on the consent agenda and adopted Schedule D (personnel/administrative schedule), and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 2.1–2.4; approval of minutes): approved, voice vote — all in favor, none opposed.

- Consent agenda (items 4.1–4.8; annual appointments, service agreements, fees, equipment disposition): approved, voice vote — all in favor, none opposed.

- Waive third reading for Policy 6161: motion moved and seconded; voice vote — all in favor.

- Approve Policy 6161 (Conference Travel Expense Reimbursement): motion moved and seconded; voice vote — all in favor.

- Personnel recommendations (items 6.1 and 6.2): taken as consent and approved; voice vote — all in favor, none opposed.

- Approve Schedule D: motion moved and seconded; voice vote — all in favor.

- Motion to adjourn: approved.

Discussion details and next steps

Dr. Fitzgerald said the district's top priority is finding the "right" candidate rather than filling the position quickly, and that the district will restart the search if the applicant pool does not produce an appropriate candidate. She described specific stakeholder engagement steps that will feed a rubric used to evaluate finalists before a cabinet interview and a recommendation to the board. The district will notify Siwan families and staff and distribute the stakeholder survey the morning after the meeting.

Several routine business items were bundled in consent agendas. On building use, district staff said fees were increased by the Consumer Price Index and are intended to reflect last year's rates adjusted by CPI. Staff also reported receipt of the second half of BOCES service charges consistent with the approved budget and noted new district vehicles are being registered; several older vehicles will be disposed of.

No members of the public gave comments during the meeting.

The board recessed after completing the listed business items; no other substantive discussions or contested votes were recorded.