As the new school year gets under way, John A. Richman has outlined his goals as the new superintendent of Plainedge School District.

Richman, in an interview last week, said his primary effort will be improving student performance.

"I want 100 percent of our kids to graduate with a Regents diploma," he said, noting that for his first year, he is aiming to bring the district's Regents graduation rate up from 57 percent to 65 percent. "I want people to know where Plainedge is even though we're not on a map," he added, noting that he wants the district to be well-known for academic achievement.

Plainedge is not a town unto itself; the district's students hail from such communities as North Massapequa and Bethpage. Richman noted that a great strength of the small district is that its residents seem to highly value education.

In order to boost the Regents graduation rate, Richman has the following goals: helping students meet the tougher state learning and assessment standards, getting parents more involved in their children's education, as well as assessing the literacy program at the elementary level, and making it consistent throughout the elementary schools. The new superintendent also plans to explore the creation of a nine-period day at the high school and all-day kindergarten.

In response to feelings from the community that the middle school is outdated and cannot accommodate enrollment growth, he also aims to work with the community and school board to come up with plans to build a new one.

Citing a history of protracted labor disputes, Richman said he also wants to renew relationships between teachers and administration, and between teachers and students. One part of this will be a welcome back convocation for staff, which will feature remarks from himself, the school board president, the president of the Plainedge Federation of Teachers, and a motivational speaker. The theme of the event is "New Beginnings."

"I mean, teaching I think, is just the most awesome profession that one can choose, and unfortunately, we sometimes get sidetracked about what it is we're here to do," Richman commented.

Richman brings to the table applicable experiences from the school districts in which he previously served. For example, as superintendent of Berkshire Union Free School District for eight years, he said, he saw a district shift from having an "autocratic environment" to one that is open, and where "education is valued." He also supervised the construction of a new high school there.

While serving as an administrator at Rockville Centre Schools, he said he experienced a district that values education, as illustrated by an 80 percent graduation rate.

"I've seen and experienced change to create a positive and healthy educational culture," he said.