Oswego Superintendent David Fischer will be leaving the Port City to take over the top spot in the Bellingham, Mass. School District.

The announcement came Tuesday night at the Bellingham School Committee meeting.
Fischer, who has been the Oswego superintendent since Jan. 3, 2005, was in attendance at the Bellingham meeting Tuesday evening, according to Michelle Laczoski, a reporter for The Palladium-Times’ sister paper, The Milford Daily News. Fischer was one of four finalists vying for the position that will replace current Bellingham superintendent, Chris Mattocks, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Fischer did not respond to numerous phone calls and messages seeking comment left by The Palladium-Times. According to Laczoski, at Tuesday’s meeting Fischer said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be here and to serve as your next superintendent … I hope to live up to your expectations of the position and I’ll do everything I can to learn the strengths and sources of pride in the district.”

The superintendent also said he was anxious to move to Bellingham to “meet people and learn.” Fischer also thanked the Bellingham School Committee for its faith and trust in him.

Beth Ladoceur, the administrative assistant to the superintendent in the Bellingham district, said it was “unclear at this time when (Fischer) will start.” School Committee Chairman Stephen Patrick said Fischer is slated to begin his new tenure Aug. 1.

Fischer’s current salary is $152,152. Ladoceur refused to comment on what the new superintendent’s starting salary will be or the length of his contract. “He has publicly accepted the position at this time and that’s public knowledge,” Ladoceur said.

According to Oswego director of personnel for the district, Bill Crist, the board of education can either place an interim superintendent or conduct a search to hire someone permanently, noting that the decision really depends on the time frame. “The board will really need to sit and discuss what they want to do,” he said.

Crist noted that if the school board chooses to place an interim superintendent in the position for the time being, it would most likely not form a committee. If the board chooses to conduct a “full-blown search” then it will form a committee to find Oswego’s next superintendent.

In June 2006, the board of education voted to extend Fischer’s contract until June 30, 2011. According to Crist, the district will not have to buy Fischer out of his contract. “He’s retiring for the purpose of resigning,” Crist said. The personnel director noted that there is a 60-day notice stipulation, but it would not be unusual for the school board to waive this stipulation.

Oswego board member Fred Maxon, who served on the executive committee for Oswego County Opportunities, said that the school board will probably set up a search committee and may opt to hire a company to acquire possible candidates to fill Fischer’s place.

“We will try to find the best fit for our district,” Maxon said. “Even though we may be hiring a firm to do the search, it doesn’t preclude us from hiring someone locally.”
Maxon said he was not surprised that Fischer got the job in Massachusetts, noting that there is a competitive market for people with superintendent experience.

“I would just like to think it’s a good opportunity for the district to fill that position and move forward,” Maxon said. “I see nothing but positive for Dave (Fischer) and the district.”

Current Board President Maggie Tiballi said she was happy for Fischer and his new job. “In reading The Milford Daily News’ Web site, it appears that they did a comprehensive search with candidates from various states,” she said. “In choosing David Fischer, I think that says something about his qualifications of being superintendent.”

Board member Dave White said that he wishes Fischer the best for his new endeavor. “I’m glad to see that if that’s what he wanted to be successful,” White said. “I am sure he will do a good job for them.”

Board member Jim Tschudy spoke highly of Fischer, noting that two of the three years the superintendent was in Oswego, the budget passed along with the Capital Improvement Project. “I would just want to wish him every success,” Tschudy said.

Prior to his tenure as superintendent for the Oswego City School District, Fischer was an assistant principal for the Depew Union Free Schools in Depew. During his career, Fischer has also worked as an English teacher, a guidance councilor and a high school administrator.

Information from The Milford Daily News, a GateHouse Media paper, was used in this story.