Joe Reyda is the new Bemus Point Central Schools superintendent.

BEMUS POINT — The Bemus Point Central School District Board of Education approved the appointment of Joe Reyda as superintendent.

The Bemus Point Central School District Board of Education approved the appointment of Joe Reyda as superintendent at its meeting on Wednesday, concluding an extended search for the position.

On March 16, the board appointed Michelle Spasiano, a former Franklinville Central School District superintendent, as its interim superintendent. Spasiano was appointed to replace Michael Mansfield, who was appointed Dunkirk City School District superintendent on Feb. 11.

Reyda, a lifelong Chautauqua County resident, began his teaching career at Mayville Central School before it became Chautauqua Lake Central School.

“I spent 13 wonderful years in the classroom,” said Reyda, who taught English Language Arts.

After his time in Mayville, Reyda entered the Fredonia Central School District, where he served as assistant high school principal before entering his current position as director of instruction/human services and chief information officer. He has spent the last 16 years as an administrator at Fredonia.

Reyda thanked the board for the opportunity, and spoke briefly on the challenges that schools are now facing under COVID-19.

“I find myself waking up very early in the morning, worried about school,” Reyda said. “It is all very very regular, and it is something that we all have in common. From the youngest of us, to my age. It has always been there. The shutdown that happened last year took away all of that. It took away that closure that we all were expecting. Now that school is about ready to start, we are all still feeling that exact same way. What is it going to look like? We’ve come up with three plans, but those plans may change tomorrow, they may change next week. I do not have the answers to what school is going to look like on the eighth for Bemus Point, but I do want to say that we will create a plan that is in the best interest of all of our children. We will create a plan to deal with this incredibly difficult time by working together.”

Bemus Point and the rest of New York’s districts were required to submit reopening plans to Albany late last week, and are expecting to hear feedback from Gov. Andrew Cuomo on those plans by Friday.