McKay Picked to be New Chappaqua Superintendent

The Chappaqua school board announced at its Tuesday night meeting that Lyn McKay, the current Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, will be the district's new superintendent.

McKay, who has been with the district since 2003, is "a talented and experienced educational leader," said board president Janet Benton, who served as co-chair for the board's search committee.

In remarks she made to an audience that numbered at dozens of people, McKay spoke both of her work in the district and the work ahead. She pledged a series of initiatives for when she starts, including the formation of an advisory group of community members, holding coffees and holding a "knowledge cafe" to engage the public.

McKay, an internal candidate, was selected in a long search that included a total of 44 candidates, 21 of which applied and 23 of which were recruited, according to statistics provided by the board. Candidates hailed from multiple states, ranging from the tri-state area, to Washington state, to Wisconsin.

Board member Jeffrey Mester noted that McKay, in her current role with the district, was in "a year-long" interview process for the search.

The search was conducted by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, and the members who did the recruiting were former Bedford Central Superintendent Bruce Dennis, and Deborah Raizes, a former Scarsdale school board member. The two began their work after being hired in September. That firm took over after the first organization, School Leadership, LLC, withdrew last summer.The initial search began shortly after then-Superintendent David Fleishman, who went on to become superintendent at the Newton, MA school distrct, announced his intent to resign. The position is being filled for the 2011-12 school year on an interim basis by John Chambers, whose long career in the area included holding the same job in Byram Hills.

Board members were full of praise in their choice, offering their takes, as were notable members of the community who volunteer for education groups.

Leslie Kuhn, a member of the Chappaqua PTA, said McKay has "a passion for helping our students," and spoke about how she has gotten to know McKay in her role on the PTA's executive committee.

The search process, which was started after then-Superintendent David Fleishman announced in Feburary 2010 of his intent to step down, was criticized by some residents who did not want to the school board to give initial consideration to an internal candidate. Two of those critics spoke Tuesday night and said that their concerns were answered.

Board member Randall Katchis, who was among the residents who signed off on an effort last April to broaden the search - he was subsequently elected that May - praised the integrity of the process, calling it "a level playing field."

Michael Kaufman, president of the Chappaqua School Foundation, was another of those residents who called for an external and broad search. He praised its results, both in his capacity for the CSF and from his personal note.

According to Benton, the terms of McKay's contract, which starts July 1, include a $240,000 salary, a 20-percent contribution to health insurance premiums and a $500 per month car expense allowance. There is an option to extend the contract for two years. The contract was approved by the board unanimously.

One difference in the search process was in not publicly showing finalists, in contast previous superintendent searches in the district. The board's reason for not taking this approach again was due to concerns about compromising the confidentiality of other finalists, in relation in their current employment, according to Benton.

As for McKay's current position, a search will be done, with internal and external candidates welcome for consideration, and it is hoped that someone will be chosen by the end of the school year, Benton explained.

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