Oswego City School District Superintendent of Schools David Fischer has applied for and been named one of four finalists for the superintendent position with the Bellingham School District in Bellingham, Mass.

Speaking for the first time locally on the Bellingham position, Fischer stated, “I have applied for a position with another district and I have not heard back from them with their decision yet. I will certainly give more information on this issue publicly as necessary.”

According to a report in The Palladium-Times’ sister publication, The Milford Daily News (Milford, Mass.), Fischer visited and was interviewed for the Bellingham position May 21. It was noted in that same article that the Bellingham school board would render a decision as to whether they would continue with interviews or select a candidate to fill the position at their May 27 school board meeting.

While May 27 was initially set as the day a decision would be reached by the committee, the committee chose to delay its decision until a future meeting. According to The Milford Daily News, chairman of the superintendent selection committee, Stephen Patrick, said the board will likely announce a decision at its meeting, Tuesday.
No one who was available by phone Friday at the Bellingham School District’s Keough Administration Building was authorized to comment on Fischer being a finalist for the position.

Speaking on the possibility that Fischer could be leaving his current position as Oswego superintendent, School Board President Maggie Tiballi had positive things to say about Fischer’s time in the Port City. “I think that he has done an excellent job here as superintendent. I wish him all of the luck in the world,” Tiballi said. “One thing that is for certain is that wherever he winds up, they will have one great administrator.”

While he was aware that the superintendent had been looking elsewhere for employment, School Board member, William “Dave” White, noted that he was a bit surprised upon first hearing the news. “I wish him well … Obviously, he and I have not always gotten along and seen things the same, but he has got to do whatever he feels is right,” he said. “Since he has talked publicly to the people there and said what a wonderful community they have, I do feel that it is only fair that he comments publicly on this matter to this community as well.”

Fischer became superintendent of Oswego schools Jan. 3, 2005, after a stint as assistant principal for Depew Union Free Schools in Depew, just east of Buffalo. Before his time there, he was an English teacher and a guidance counselor at West Seneca schools, then a high school administrator at two other schools over an 18-year period.

Fischer received a contract extension as superintendent of Oswego schools in June 2006, which puts him under contract until June 30, 2011. He did explore another superintendent’s position one other time during his Oswego tenure, applying for and becoming a finalist for the job with the Churchville-Chili School District in the Rochester area.

Fischer’s annual salary was $146,300 in June 2007, however district clerk and public relations manager, Bill Foley, could not comment on the superintendent’s current salary. The salary for the Bellingham position will be commensurate with experience, according to reports in The Milford Daily News.

Regardless of the decision made in Bellingham, Fischer noted that things for him in Oswego would remain business as usual. “I will continue to do everything that I can to provide positive direction and leadership in the Oswego City School District,” he said.