Nyack, December 8 — Don Hammond, who previously served as a trustee and president of the Nyack Schools Board of Education, was picked to fill the vacant seat of Bryan Burrell who resigned last month. He was one of eleven candidates who applied for the appointed position.
Hammond was president of Nyack’s Board of Education from 2002-2004.
During last summer’s discussion about changing Nyack’s open campus policy, Hammond said the board’s approach was setting a bad precedent for how the trustees work with the community. ‘€œI heard two board members ridicule someone who disagreed with them,’€ he said. ‘€œPlease welcome us into the process and don’t push us away.’€
Four board members voted last night to approve Hammond’s selection. Board President Michael Lagana and Trustee Dan Juechter, who championed the open campus changes, voted against picking Hammond.
Hammond, whose term runs through next June, will participate in the process to select a new schools’ superintendent. School Leadership, LLC is conducting a search for a new superintendent to replace Dr. Valencia Douglas who left the district in August. The consulting firm will be paid about $20,000 to conduct interviews and recommend candidates.
Hammond is a college professor and is listed as a board member at Heifer International, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and poverty by providing gifts of livestock, seeds and trees. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Urban Missions from Westminster Theological Seminary and received an MBA from Iona College and a BA from Nyack College. He is also the Chief Operating Officer for the Rockland County YMCA.
Sources:
- Journal News, 12/8/2010
- Schools’ Super Search Is On, 11/21/2010
- Public, BOE Have Their Say on Nyack H.S. Open Campus, 8/25/3020
- Heifer International
Photo Credit: Heifer International
