Schedule outlined for new Amherst High principal
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst High School is closer to gaining a new principal.

Amherst Superintendent Laura Chabe outlined the tentative plan to appoint a new high school principal at the Sept. 18 board of education meeting.

Chabe said the district is working aggressively with focus groups of administrators, teachers, support staff, students and parents to see what the district's needs are for a new principal.

Chabe said tentative interviews with candidates and herself, key administrators and a few board members are scheduled for Oct. 4 and 5, with the intent of interviewing a finalist on Oct. 9. Chabe said she would like to recommend a new principal by the Oct. 16 board meeting.

Former Principal JoAnn Balazs resigned on Aug. 27 to accept a position as principal at the Harkness Career and Technical Center in Cheektowaga.

Retired Amherst High Principal Joe Podgorski has been filling in as a substitute administrator until the district finds a replacement.

The district also adopted district cell phone and credit card policies. The cell phone policy states the district does not provide cell phones to employees at district expense. Board president Bill Blanford said the district can change the policy at any time. Blanford said the district is also asking Erie 1 BOCES administrators about the cell phone policies adopted by other districts.

District credit cards must be kept under secure conditions at all times, used for acceptable purposes and returned after use.

The next Amherst Central Board of Education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Amherst Middle School, 55 Kings Highway.