Teresa Prendergast, the current assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Garden City Public Schools, will succeed Tom Dolan as the superintendent of the Great Neck School District following a vote by the Board of Education at its meeting Monday.
“She has been in this business for a long time and is highly qualified,” board Vice President Larry Gross said. “Equally important is her educational philosophy in insuring that each child gets the education that they need.”
Prendergast will officially become the 11th superintendent of the Great Neck School District on July 15. Dolan, who announced his retirement in November, will end his tenure July 31.
“It will be an honor and a privilege to serve as your next superintendent of schools,” Prendergast said following the board’s vote. “I follow in the footsteps of many great leaders. Dr. Dolan you will be a very tough act to follow.”
Prendergast said she has been talking with people in Great Neck to get an idea of what they value most in education.
“Parents, I know you are very passionate about your children’s education and futures, and I understand the broader community does show a commitment to the future of Great Neck,” he said. “I vow to respect the honor of past traditions as well as look to the future.”
Board President Barbara Berkowitz said the board, which was shocked when Dolan announced his retirement, immediately began a rigorous search that included first asking other school administrators and teachers what they would want to see in a new superintendent. She said the board had advertised heavily, but also reached out to potential candidates directly.
The board also spoke to education professionals to ask them who they thought should apply to be superintendent, Gross said.
He said Prendergast applied to be superintendent after the job was recommended to her by someone in the education field.
“I come from the business world and I’ve interviewed plenty of presidents of companies, and I know this was a very intense process, but a very good process,” Gross said.
The board conducted the selection process in private, as they believed candidates would not apply if they knew word would get out in their respective school districts, threatening their current jobs, Berkowitz said.
“Figuratively, we brought many of you into the board rooms with us, recalling your thoughts and your concerns,” Berkowitz said to the audience in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
Gross said Prendergast was an exceptionally qualified candidate who has served in many educational roles from teacher to principal to her current position as an assistant superintendent in Garden City.
Gross wasn’t sure how many candidates the board interviewed, but did say the search extended into New Jersey and Connecticut as well.
Garden City Public Schools Superintendent Robert Feirsen said in a statement he was sad to see Prednergast leave, but is also happy with her new position.
“She has provided outstanding service to our community during a time of robust educational change in New York State,” Feirsen said. “The board of education and everyone here in Garden City Public Schools wish Dr. Prendergast the very best.”
“Garden City will always have a special place in my heart, and it has truly been my pleasure to have worked with such wonderful professionals in support of our students,” Prendergast said in a statement.
Dolan has said he decided to retire after the 2014-15 school year because he is healthy enough to do so, and that he would like to teach at a university level again, as well as spend more time with his children and grandchildren. He became superintendent of the Great Neck public schools in July 2009, replacing former Superintendent of Schools Ronald Friedman.
He had worked as the superintendent of the Franklin Square Elementary School District since 2004. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree in history and psychology. Dolan also received a master of science degree from CUNY Queens College in 1983 and later his doctorate in education from Hofstra University.
The superintendent is paid $280,500 a year according to this year’s proposed school district budget. The budget for the 2014-2015 school year was for $214,067,850.
During the 2014-2015 school year, there were 6,399 registered students among the 10 schools in the district.
The schools in the district include Great Neck North High School, Great Neck South High School, the Village School, Great Neck North Middle School, Great Neck South Middle School, the Elizabeth Mellick Baker School, the John F. Kennedy School, Lakeville School, Saddle Rock School and Parkville School.
The board also voted Monday to hire Barrett, Bonacci & Weele, an engineering and surveying firm out of Hauppauge, to do the initial site survey of the Village of Great Neck Village Hall – a site the school district has expressed interest in purchasing – for $5,600. The firm will survey the property’s boundaries and the topographic elements of the land.
Gross said this type of survey is standard whenever someone considers buying a piece of land. He said the school district and the village have not signed any agreement yet, but the school district has said it is interested in possibly buying the property at 61 Baker Hill Road.
“The facility sits directly in front of our school which is growing in population – it’s a very opportune location,” Gross said.
Village of Great Neck trustees said in March the school district had expressed interest in buying the property, which lies in front of the Elizabeth M Baker School at 69 Baker Hill Road.
He said the school district could use the building for more classrooms, but was also considering other options.
The school board would have to hold a series of public meetings on the possible purchase, and the final purchase would be subject to a referendum vote.
Village of Great Neck trustees in February approved a resolution to purchase property at 265 East Shore Road, for the construction of a new Village Hall.
