ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- During a short special board meeting and executive session Friday afternoon, the Rochester City School Board passed a resolution appointing Daniel Lowengard as interim superintendent. Lowengard will take over starting Jan. 1.
“He’s familiar with Rochester,” RCSD Board President Van White said. “In the past, he has had professional contracts that have allowed him to look at things like performance evaluations and performance reviews so he is familiar with Rochester. He’s a superintendent with extensive urban, I emphasize urban, superintendent experience. I think he sees the stuff that we’re doing that has great potential, East High School. I think he was encouraged by things that we have looked at like a military academy. He knows that we’re open. We think out of the box. He does too.”
Nearly a month ago, Superintendent Bolgen Vargas announced he was stepping down Dec. 31, six months before his contract was set to expire. This came after he learned the board would not be renewing his contract.
Lowengard’s contract goes until June. He will be paid an annual salary of $195,000, which will be prorated. White said Lowengard does not get health care benefits or transportation allowance, but he will get a housing allowance to stay in Rochester.
“We don’t anticipate there’s going to be any candidate that would start before June 2016 in any event because most candidates who we might be looking at would have existing employment responsibilities,” White said.
Lowengard served as Syracuse School District Superintendent from 2006 until 2011 before his retirement.
Although he’s made it clear he won’t be applying for the permanent position, Lowengard said he is excited for the six months ahead, but also said there is a lot of work to be done.
"We’ve got some contracts that I’m hoping we can settle before the new person comes in, a huge construction project, we’ve got these receivership schools, there’s 14 that have to make progress either this June or the following June, so there’s more than enough," Lowengard said. "In addition, building the budget that makes sure it solves all these issues."
However, Lowengard said the main focus is on the classroom.
"I’ve spent three years in Rochester in hundreds of classrooms and I want to find a way for the teachers and the administrators to collaborate in a way that helps us all get better at what we do," Lowengard said.
Vargas will stay on board and work with Lowengard as a consultant until the end of June next year.
"There's talk about him working extensively with Dr. Vargas on those recommendations and we're thinking about engaging him in developing a strategic plan that would be recommended to the new superintendent," White said. "Three superintendents working together to provide this community with a smooth transition."