Agostine’s finalist for Monroe superintendent job

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Region 16 Superintendent of Schools James Agostine has been named the finalist for the superintendent position in Monroe. FILE PHOTO

PROSPECT — Region 16 Superintendent of Schools James Agostine is the finalist for the top spot in the Monroe school district.

The Monroe Board of Education’s superintendent search committee recently recommended Agostine to the full board as finalist. Darrell Trump, board chairman, said members anticipate to vote on the committee’s recommendation Nov. 7.

Agostine, who has been superintendent in Region 16 for the past four years, confirmed he is a finalist for the Monroe job and said there are still two more steps in the process to go through before a decision is made.

“I’m hopeful we’ll get through those two (steps) and move forward,” Agostine said.

No final decision has been made yet and Agostine has not officially told the Region 16 Board of Education that he is leaving. Agostine’s status was the topic of an executive session at last night’s meeting.

“As a committee we needed to talk about what the next step would be and if (Agostine) does accept, where we will go from there,” Region 16 school board Chair Donna Cullen said.

Cullen said the board made no motions following the executive session.

There isn’t an assistant superintendent in the district. If Agostine accepts the Monroe position, Cullen said, an interim superintendent could come from within or outside the district.

Under Agostine’s contract, the board could hold him for up to 90 days before he would be able to leave. It’s unclear whether the board would move to do so, and it’s a decision board members will face if Agostine accepts the Monroe position.

Cullen said if Agostine is offered the Monroe position and he accepts it, the board wishes him well.

“If he does decide to go, we wish him the best. … But then, we’re going to have some work to do,” she said.

The Republican American contributed to this article.