The Manhasset Board of Education is down to five candidates in its search to replace Superintendent Charles Cardillo, the Manhasset School District said in a statement on Thursday.
The school board hopes to appoint the next superintendent at a meeting later this month, the statement said.
Cardillo, who has served as the district’s superintendent since 2005, will retire on June 30.
“I’m pleased with the process,” said Regina Rule, president of the Board of Education. “The toughest part has been balancing transparency to the community with the need to protect the confidentiality of candidates.”
Three of the five finalists for the position are sitting superintendents, while two are assistant superintendents for curriculum and instruction, the statement said.
“The Board recently interviewed the five candidates” and “has been very impressed with the quality of each of these candidates,” the statement said.
Last November, the Board hired the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to assist in replacing Cardillo.
Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates presented the board with the five finalists, whom it selected from a field of over 20 candidates, the statement said.
“Prior to appointing a new superintendent, the board and its professional advisers need to complete the usual and customary due diligence steps, which include background checks, reference checks, and legal counsel’s negotiation of a contract, as well as a site visit to the final candidate’s current district to meet with parents, faculty, staff and administrators to gather additional insights into the candidate,” the statement said.
After the board passes a resolution to appoint the new superintendent, it will hold a reception so the school community can meet him or her, the statement said.
“Once our new superintendent begins, the board will plan a comprehensive, community-wide introduction of our new superintendent to the members of our school community,” the statement added.
Cardillo said he will be involved in the transition “not formally” but “informally.” He did not say how frequently the new superintendent will visit campus during the remainder of the school year but said the two will “speak by phone and email.”
