Evidently, sharing a superintendent has gone smoothly for the Panama and Clymer school districts.

The districts recently finished their first year with Bert Lictus serving as superintendent for both districts, a move created from a desire to utilize the districts’ close proximity while saving between $50,000 and $60,000 apiece. With one good year under their belt, the districts have decided to create two additional shared positions. Emily Harvey, formerly Panama’s secondary school principal, has been named director of instruction – a position that will be shared between both districts. Brynne Hinsdale, Clymer’s technology coordinator for the past 11 years, has been tapped to fill the newly created director of technology coordinator for the two districts.

Lictus said the districts are investing the savings from the superintendent sharing to create the director of instruction position to have one staff member focus solely on improving instruction by supporting teachers and administrators. Such positions have been created throughout the state in the wake of the Common Core State Standards and New York’s teacher evaluation system and would likely have cost each district the prevailing wage for such positions of between $80,000 and $100,000. Instead, sharing a superintendent and the position means there will be little or no additional spending for Clymer and Panama taxpayers.

A retirement created an opening for a technology coordinator at Panama. Rather than bring in an entry level individual, Lictus said the Panama board has decided to share the position with Clymer. Panama gains the expertise of Hinsdale’s 11 years’ experience while Clymer shares the cost of a long-tenured teacher.

Both districts, their taxpayers and the children they educate win – again.