The new school year in the Syracuse City School District opened with a new interim superintendent at the helm this week.
Pre-Schoolers at Salem Hyde Elementary School welcomed the school year with some special visitors: Mayor Stephanie Miner and interim Superintendent Jaime Alicea, who read an ABC book to the youngsters.
This is Alicea’s first opening day of school, and he hopes it’s not his last. He was appointed as an interim superintendent this summer after former superintendent Sharon Contreras took a job in North Carolina. Alicea told reporters he is interested in replacing Contreras permanently.
Syracuse Education Commissioner Mark Muhammad wouldn’t say whether that will happen, but noted the district hasn’t started any kind of job search for the position.
"We’re happy with the interim superintendent. We’re going to do the best we can to support him in his effort, and we’ll make a decision at some point what we’re going to do from here.”
And Muhammad added that could include not embarking on any kind of search. So while the Board of Education mulls over the future leadership of the district, Alicea looks ahead to the rest of the school year.
“My priority is making sure our students get the best resources, that they get quality education in the Syracuse City School District. That we can work together, the Board of Education, the mayor, all of us, the parents, to ensure that our kids are getting the best education,” said Alicea.
