OLEAN, N.Y. — Over the past several months, school board members with the Allegany-Limestone (N.Y.) Central School District searched for a superintendent that not only had local ties, but also was qualified for the position.
On Wednesday, board president Dr. Joe Zimmer reported the school board found both of those qualifications in Anthony Giannicchi, who currently serves as principal of the Cattaraugus-Little Valley High School, and was appointed this week as Allegany-Limestone’s new superintendent.
Zimmer said the announcement of Giannicchi’s appointment was made via email Wednesday to the faculty and staff in the school district.
Calls made to Giannicchi’s home were not returned Wednesday. Zimmer said he was unsure if Giannicchi would be in the area throughout this week, as it is break week for most schools in the region.
Zimmer said a unanimous resolution appointing Giannicchi will be on the board’s agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. He said Giannicchi will attend the 6:30 p.m. meeting in Room 42 of the middle/high school building and all faculty, staff and students are invited to attend and welcome him.
He said Giannicchi, whose salary has been set at $142,500, will take office on April 1.
Until then, Mark Ward will continue as interim superintendent for the district.
Zimmer said Giannicchi has served 11 years as principal at the Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School District, first at the middle school and for the last five years at the high school.
“He is no stranger to Allegany-Limestone, having taught secondary social studies for us from 1995 to 2004,” Zimmer stated. “People (in the district) are familiar with him because he lives not to far away in the Cattaraugus-Little Valley area. I remember him from when he was a teacher for us.”
He said Giannicchi’s familiarity with the Allegany-Limestone district and the fact that he is from the local region were a factor in his hiring. After former Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan announced her plans to resign last fall, numerous district residents requested the board find a new leader who had ties to the community. Geelan, as well as the superintendent prior to her tenure, Diane Munro, were both from outside of the area and served for approximately six or seven years each.
As for the search, which was aided by consultants, the board received applications from 15 individuals.
“We narrowed it through review of paper files down to six semi-finalists,” Zimmer shared. “We interviewed all six semi-finalists and came down to two finalists before selecting Tony as our candidate.”
He said approximately half of the candidates were from the local area, with the other half from outside of the region. All, however, were from New York state.
“In the beginning of the process, we surveyed all of our constituents – parents, teachers, students and focus groups – and it came very loud and clear that they wanted someone with local connections and perhaps live locally,” he continued. “In the search, it came out that way that we have someone who is both local and willing to live locally.”
Zimmer said when the announcement was made to the staff Wednesday, all he heard “was positive comments.
“There are quite a number of people who still know him when he served in the district and are quite happy with him,” he concluded. “That’s what we’re hearing so far.”
