September 9, 2024
Dear Geneseo Central School District Community,
What a joy it was to see our hallways come alive last week with the bright smiles and eager energy of our students! As we settle into the new school year, we want to share some important updates about our district's leadership transition.
First, we're deeply grateful for your support during this time of change. Your commitment to our students' education is the backbone of our community, and we're thankful for your trust in us. We understand you may have questions about the recent separation agreement with our former Superintendent, Mrs. Cindy Flowers. While we must respect legal privacy obligations, we want to provide as much clarity as we can:
● We want to assure you that this transition was a thoughtful, mutually agreed-upon decision. As part of this agreement, Mrs. Flowers will receive her contracted salary through June 2026, along with standard benefits. If she secures new employment during this time, our financial obligations will adjust accordingly. This agreement honors our contractual obligations while allowing the district to transition to new leadership for the future.
● We understand that questions may arise about the financial implications of this decision. The funds to fulfill this agreement come from a designated reserve fund, ensuring no impact on our general budget, student activities, learning resources, or our tax base.
● Our current leadership structure, with Mr. Michael Salatel as Executive Principal and Dr. Jon Hunter as Interim Superintendent, is a cost-effective solution that maintains strong, experienced leadership for our district versus hiring a potentially costly full-time interim superintendent.
As the Board of Education, our primary responsibility is to plan for the future of our district. While we genuinely appreciate Mrs. Flowers' 17 years of service and her contributions to our community, we are focused on identifying leadership that is best equipped to guide our students, staff, and community on a new path forward.
We're excited about the future of the Geneseo Central School District. This transition allows us to align our leadership with our vision for the future, building on the strong foundation we already have in place. We're committed to identifying leaders who will inspire innovation, foster academic excellence, and nurture a supportive environment for all our students and staff.
Looking ahead, we're eager to engage with you as we begin the process of selecting a permanent superintendent over the next school year. We promise to keep you informed every step of the way and welcome your input as we shape the future of our district together.
Thank you for your continued partnership in education. The bright minds we're nurturing today are the leaders of tomorrow, and with your support, we're confident that the best is yet to come for Geneseo Central School District.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the Board of Education at Sherrikaleta@geneseocsd.org or 585-243-3450 Ext. 2214. You can also find updates and information on our district website.
Sincerely,
Michael Tenalio
President, Geneseo Central School District Board of Education