The Wait Continues for New Derynoski Assistant Principal

Those waiting to find out who will take the reins as the next Derynoski Elementary School assistant principal will have to wait just a bit longer.

The Southington Board of Education this week met with three finalists that board members confirmed included both in district and out of district candidates and selection of the successor to Jan Verderame seems imminent. But it’s not official — not yet anyway.

“We will take a vote at our Aug. 18 meeting,” said Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski. “That is pretty standard with the process and it gives the future assistant principal a chance to notify their former employer and still gives us a chance to have the right staff in place before school starts.”

Goralski could not comment on who was interviewed Monday or whether the candidate selected was already part of the Southington school district.

Regardless of whether it is in district or someone from outside Southington, Goralski said, allowing time for the candidate to tell their employer is important. In district, he said it would give school administration an opportunity to prepare for a change in staffing.

The delay is even more important for out of district candidates, he said. Instead of asking them to burn bridges, it gives outside candidates a chance to contact their employer, give appropriate notice and still join the district staff before the school year kicks off.

For those in the Derynoski School community, it’s been a long game of musical chairs as they await their newest leader. The school’s former principal, Karen Smith, was promoted to serve as the assistant superintendent for the entire district in April and then Assistant Principal Jan Verderame was tapped to be the principal in June.

“It’s an exciting time for the Derynoski School and I’m confident that whoever the board selects will be more than capable of getting the job done,” Smith said earlier this year.