Commack Board of Education Extends Superintendent's Contract

Commack school officials voted to extend Superintendent Donald James' contract to serve as leader of the Commack School District on Thursday night. 

By vote of 3-0 with one abstention, Commack trustees voted to extend James contract by one year through 2017. Trustee Peter Wunsch was the sole abstention. 

Mary Jo Masciello, president of Commack Board of Education, say it is the board's practice to vote each December of whether or not to extend the superintendent's contract to ensure future leadership of the school district. 

"Dr. James has proven himself in times of crisis and economic change in our schools. He continues to facilitate and support a culture of leraning in an ever-changing model of education," read a statement written by trustee Jeffery Egan, who was absent from the meeting due to a family issue. 

Yet, one man expressed his concern about the extension of James' contract, citing difficult in reaching the superintendent to address issues in the school. 

"He is doing everything we expect himto do but not sure he is going above and beyond," he said. 

James became superintendent of Commack School District in 2010, taking over leadership due to James Feltman's retirement. He was initally given a 5-year contract through 2015 that has since been extended twice in each time in 1-year increments.

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