Published: August 19, 2008 10:29 pm            

LEW-PORT: Roser named superintendent

After more than three years, the Lewiston-Porter Central School District finally has a superintendent.

The board appointed R. Christopher Roser Tuesday night to take over the long-vacant role leading the district in a 6-1 vote. Board member Scott Stepien was the single dissenting vote.

Roser is currently in his fourth year as superintendent of schools for the Avoca Central School District in the Finger Lakes region. He also served as the principal and superintendent of the Greenwood Central School District from 2000-04. He began his career in education as a sixth-grade teacher in the Greenwood Central School District in 1975.

The board named Roser as a finalist for the position in March.

Roser was up against Oren Cook, who was added as a finalist in May and faced increased scrutiny after the Gazette reported lawsuits were still pending against him in his former school districts. A third candidate, Anthony Day, withdrew his interest in the position in May.

“Both of them (Roser and Cook) were very good, that’s why it took so long to make up our mind and we decided Roser is the best fit,” said board president Robert Weller. “We had a lot of disagreements back and forth but we’ve finally come to the conclusion.”

During a public session in March, Roser bluntly told the board if it did not work together in making its decision, he was not interested in the job. Board members also told the Gazette Roser had asked for a 7-0 vote if he were to be appointed. But Roser was informed that was likely impossible from Lew-Port’s board, Weller said.

Roser did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.

The district has not had a superintendent since Whitney Vantine resigned for a similar job in a Long Island school district. He was recently named superintendent for the City of Tonawanda School District.

Lew-Port board members had initially said it would offer up to a $160,000 salary depending on background and experience. Roser’s approved salary could not be determined at press time.

Business administrator Don Rappold has been serving as interim superintendent for the past three years, but has said he was not interested in taking over permanently.

Roser is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.

        

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