Catskill names interim school leader

Cook will leave the district July 29 to assume the role of superintendent of the Englewood Public School District in New Jersey.

Prior to his appointment, Bongiovi was retired after serving as the superintendent of the Port Jervis Central School District from 2013 to 2017 and the Highland Central School District from 2017 to 2021.

“I look forward to working with the board of education, school staff and community to continue to move Catskill Central School District forward,” Bongiovi said in a statement. “I’m very excited to be here at Catskill to share my experience and mentor our teachers and staff and assist with the district’s search for the next superintendent in any way I can.”

Bongiovi is working alongside Cook and his staff to acclimate himself to the district before Cook’s departure.

“Over the course of three days, Mr. Bongiovi was introduced to our 12-month staff, which includes clerical, custodian and administrative staff,” Cook wrote in an email Friday. “He had an opportunity to have conversations with these individuals and tour the facilities on both campuses. Mr. Bongiovi also had an opportunity to meet and greet students who are participating in our summer programming.”

Bongiovi holds a School District Administrator Certificate from East Stroudsburg University, a School Administrator and Supervisor Professional Diploma from Dowling College, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from SUNY Stony Brook and a Bachelor of Arts degree from LeMoyne College.

Cook has conferred with the interim superintendent on the outlook for the district, he said.

“We sat and reviewed key data points, documentation, capital project information, timelines associated with due dates, contract negotiations and personnel issues that he needs to monitor moving forward,” Cook wrote. “The district is left in good standing and Mr. Bongiovi is positioned to take the helm. I wish him and the internal and external school community the very best.”

Bongiovi had several intangibles that led to his selection, Catskill Central School District Board of Education President Deborah Johnson said Friday.

“It was his overall knowledge, energy and positivity,” Johnson said.

Bongiovi has expressed a desire to serve with the district for a limited timeframe while the district searches for a full-time superintendent, Johnson said.

“We’re hoping (he’ll serve) until the end of January, at which time we’ll conduct a real search with community input and include many of the stakeholders in the district,” she said. “He only wants to be here for a short time until we can find someone suitable.”

Johnson said the school board would be meeting with Questar III BOCES in August to hear a proposal from Questar about the organization leading a superintendent search for the district.

“The board will decide if they want to go with Questar or if we want to hire an outside company to do the search for us,” the school board president said.

Bongiovi, the cousin of rock star Jon Bon Jovi, began his career as a high school social studies teacher on Long Island, where he taught for 12 years, including nine for his alma mater, Seaford High School. He subsequently served 17 years with the Port Jervis Central School District, where he advanced to high school assistant principal, middle and high school principal, assistant superintendent and then superintendent.