Democrat File Photo THE CONTRACT FOR Livingston Manor Superintendent Debra Lynker, above, which expires June 30, was not renewed.

LMCS dismisses Lynker

By Jeanne Sager
LIVINGSTON MANOR — May 9, 2008 — The board of education in Livingston Manor has made clear its displeasure with the woman at the helm of the district.
BOCES Superintendent of Schools Dr. Martin Handler confirmed he was asked by the Livingston Manor Board to begin a search for a new superintendent to replace Debra Lynker.
Lynker’s contract, set to expire on June 30, has not been renewed by the board.
A former math teacher and principal in the district, Lynker took over as superintendent in 2003.
She’s been with the district since 1989 when she first accepted a math position in the high school – after teaching in Roscoe and Margaretville schools.
An alumna of the school, Lynker has been a polarizing figure during her tenure.
The circumstances of the board’s decision are as yet unclear – none of the five board members returned calls for comment, and Lynker could not be reached at the school.
Livingston Manor’s Director of Special Services, Roberta Rehwaldt, essentially the second in command at the school, declined comment.
Handler said he has stepped aside in the superintendent’s search after the board told him they would be hiring an “assistant” to aid him in a process he’s done single-handedly for the county’s eight districts since coming to Sullivan County.
A past president of the New York State School Boards Association and member of the Arlington Central School District Board of Education in Poughkeepsie, Edward L. McCormick is now being paid by the district to complete the search.
Handler said McCormick has no prior experience with a superintendent’s search.
With the hiring of a consultant to do the work, Handler said he couldn’t guarantee his stamp of approval on the results of the search.
He’s turned the applications for the position over to the district.
McCormick could not be reached for comment.
The superintendent’s slot is not listed among district vacancies advertised on the New York State School Boards Association Website, although two positions at Sullivan County BOCES are on the list.
The Manor board of education will meet Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the school for a budget hearing.