WESTFIELD - Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members have approved a one-year contract extension for Superintendent Mark Sissel.
After an executive session at a recent board meeting, board members, by a 7 to 2 vote, approved the extension, according to Marie Edwards, board president.
"He's (Sissel) looking for stability," Mrs. Edwards said. "One of our goals is to try to gain some administrative stability across the board."
Sissel, who still has two years remaining on his original contract, will be under contract until 2012, Mrs. Edwards said. She also said, through negotiations, the extension was lowered from three-years to one.
However, not everyone in attendance at the board meeting was pleased with the move. During the public comment session of the meeting, Barry Underwood, a concerned resident, said Sissel's contract should not be extended.
"I think we represent some of the people of Westfield, and we believe you should not be negotiating a contract at this time," Underwood said, referring to himself and Westfield resident Bob Neratko . "We're against negotiating an extension with Mr. Sissel right now."
Underwood, along with Neratko, also wrote a letter regarding the issue, which they sent to area newspapers and handed out at the meeting."Board of Education members should be able to gauge public opinion," the letter stated. "Board of Education members have a responsibility to the residents. You don't need a poll to tell you a vast majority of Westfield residents do not want this superintendent to get a contract extension."
Sissel has previously served as high school principal in the Marcus Whitman Central School District in Rushville, N.Y., as well as high school principal of the Campbell Savona High School and as an assistant principal in Elmira. After serving in the military, Sissel received his bachelor of arts in criminal justice, his master of science in education, and he holds a certificate of advanced study in educational administration. He has also taught as an elementary teacher, high school social studies teacher and was a teacher of English to speakers of other languages.
Mrs. Edwards said the board is moving forward with their decision.
"I think it's important that people realize we're keeping Mark because we believe in his ability to get this school where we want to be," she said. "We all buy into his vision and the plan that we have made together. We still believe that we can turn things around."