Pigeon named interim Amherst High principal
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Greg Pigeon is Amherst High School's new interim principal.

At the Oct. 16 Amherst Board of Education meeting, Pigeon, the high school's assistant principal and dean of students since the end of the 2006-07 school year, was unanimously approved by the board as interim principal.

"I'm honored and grateful to be part of this administrative team," said Pigeon. "Seeing how the kids perform is an awesome responsibility."

Board President William T. Blanford said the board was hoping to recommend a new principal at the meeting, but he said the search process didn't yield a candidate members felt comfortable with. Blanford said the position would be reposted in early 2008.

Pigeon will take a leave of absence from his post as assistant principal and dean of students through June 30, 2008, or until a suitable candidate can be found to permanently fill the principal position.

Patrick Murphy, a part-time physical education teacher at Smallwood Drive Elementary School and aide to the dean of students at the high school, will fill Pigeon's role in a teacher on special assignment capacity until Pigeon returns to the position.

Former Principal JoAnn Balazs resigned on Aug. 27 to accept the job as principal of the Harkness Career and Technical Center in Cheektowaga. Retired Amherst High School Principal Joseph Podgorski was serving as a substitute administrator, but his appointment ended on Oct. 5. Podgorski declined the option to continue the interim position.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com