The South Colonie Board of Education has appointed Jonathan Buhner as its new superintendent of schools. The appointment was made at a special school board meeting on Feb. 25, after a five-month search.
Buhner, 43, who has served as superintendent of the Walton Central School District since 2004, replaces Michael Marcelle, who is retiring. He receives a three-year contract at an annual salary of $168,900. He will begin in the position on Aug. 1.
I am honored to have been chosen as the new superintendent, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the school district and the South Colonie community, Buhner said of his appointment in a district release. `From the time that I have already spent in the district, a long tradition of thoughtful governance and a widespread dedication towards excellence is evident by all stakeholders.`
Prior to leading the 1,200-student Walton Central School District, Delaware County, Buhner was director of secondary and campus based programs for the Madison-Oneida BOCES from 2002-2004. Before that, he was a secondary principal at Waterville Junior-Senior High School from 1988 to 2001, and high school dean of students at Sauquoit Valley High School from 1997 to 1998. He began his educational career as a technology teacher, teaching eight years in all at Sanquoit Valley, New Hartford, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Ogdensburg schools.
Buhner is an Army veteran and earned an Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in 1985. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Cortland with a certificate of advanced study (CAS) in educational administration in 1998. He earned a master’s degree in technology education in 1994 and a bachelor’s degree in technology education in 1989 from the State University of New York at Oswego.
He has been involved in school athletics over the years, coaching football, wrestling and soccer. He holds numerous academic awards. He and his wife, Merci, are the parents of a 14-year-old boy, Jonathan, and a 10-year-old girl, Mercita.
In making the appointment, Board of Education President James Tim Ryan said he was pleased to have someone as dedicated as Buhner join the South Colonie family, and is confident he will provide the type of leadership that the district needs to continue to excel academically.
The South Colonie Board of Education began a search for a new superintendent of schools in the fall after Marcelle announced his retirement. Marcelle will officially step down on Aug. 1 after heading the school district for more than three years. In 2005, Marcelle replaced Dr. Thomas Brown, who retired after serving as South Colonie superintendent since 1989.
To help conduct the search, the district contracted with search consultant Dr. Vincent Coppola from the Western New York Educational Service Council ` an arm of the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Coppola worked with South Colonie on the previous superintendent search in 2004.
Aiding Dr. Coppola and the Board of Education were focus groups made up of various district stakeholders, such as administrators, teachers, support staff, students, board members, parents and community residents. The focus groups met for the first time in October to define the superintendent’s position and discuss the attributes they would like in a new superintendent.
The deadline for applications was Dec. 20. In January, seven superintendent candidates from a pool of 20 applicants were interviewed by the Board of Education and district focus groups before two finalists were chosen.
Those finalists visited South Colonie at the end of January for a day of final interviews and tour of the district. Buhner was offered and accepted the position in February.“