By Kathianne Boniello
Interim Schools Chancellor Harold Levy has approved School Board 26's request to rehire Superintendent Claire McIntee for an additional three years, SB 26 announced Thursday at its regular meeting at MS 74 in Bayside.
Levy's approval came two months after former Chancellor Rudy Crew gave School Board 26 an almost immediate OK to move ahead with the process of reappointing McIntee.
School Board 26 President Sharon Maurer said “two chancellors have now chosen to recognize the exceptional performance of District 26 Superintendent Claire McIntee – one who allowed us to go ahead with the process and the other who approved.”
While the renewal of McIntee's contract is not yet complete – School Board 26 was expected to sign off on the approval at its next calendar meeting March 23 – this time around was considerably easier than in 1998, when Crew initially sought to remove McIntee from her position.
At that time, the newly installed Crew questioned McIntee's ability to administer an organization as large as School District 26, which covers schools in Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Glen Oaks and parts of Auburndale, Flushing, Bellerose and Fresh Meadows.
Crew's actions inspired a storm of protest from local school board members, parents and staff, who put enough public pressure on the chancellor to force him to reverse his decision.
School Board 26 announced at its December 1999 meeting that it had begun the process of reappointing McIntee for another three-year term and Crew, on the eve of his dismissal by the Board of Education, faxed a letter of approval the same day.
McIntee said Thursday: “I'm just looking forward to working with the school community for the next three years. I appreciate the vote of confidence by the chancellor and the school community.”
School Board 26 also congratulated a host of assistant principals on their appointment to schools in the district.
The following assistant principal positions were filled: Michael Raniere at PS 26 in Fresh Meadows; Sheelia Twoomey at PS 159 in Bayside; Dena Poulos at PS 162 in Auburndale; Terri Feuerstein at PS 203 in Bayside; Arline Cazes and Clifford Swezey at MS 67 in Little Neck.
The board also congratulated Principal Dena Koski of PS 26 for completing her probationary period.
