Mineola School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Jaroslaw knew when he announced his resignation to the board of education that the time would come when his replacement would stand before the board and the residents of the district. That time came last week when, at the board's regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the next superintendent of the Mineola Union Free School District was introduced.

It is customary for a school district searching for a superintendent to hire a professional search firm. In Mineola's case, the board asked Dr. Jaroslaw to act as that search firm and help secure the next chief to lead the schools. "I was both honored and scared," Dr. Jaroslaw explained.

After a rigorous process, which involved citizens of the community, faculty members and support staff as well as members of the central administration, 51 candidates were narrowed down to five. Those five were ultimately interviewed by the board of education, which chose Dr. Leonardo Licopoli.

The district's next superintendent is coming from the Chatham School District in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he has been the superintendent, although he grew up in Floral Park, where he spent a good portion of his youth.

McGrath said of all the superintendent candidates, Dr. Licopoli has the most astute presentation since he investigated and learned about the Mineola School District. Dr. Licopoli, McGrath said, presented a plan to move the district forward, which is something the board was looking for.

"It's an absolute delight for me to be here," Dr. Licopoli said as he addressed the Mineola residents at a board meeting for the first time.

The district's new CEO then showed his sense of humor. "It's so refreshing to hear the Long Island accents," he said, adding that he was worried he was beginning to lose his own after working upstate.

Dr. Licopoli will follow Dr. Jaroslaw, known to most simply as "Dr. J." The new superintendent praised the job his predecessor has done in Mineola for over ten years. "You have an excellent superintendent who has laid the groundwork for excellent education," Dr. Licopoli said of Dr. Jaroslaw. "In the last few weeks, I've really come to learn a lot about Harry. It's an honor for me to follow him."

Hampton Street School Principal Mark Barth spoke on behalf of the district's administrative unit, welcoming Dr. Licopoli to Mineola. The administrative unit was also responsible for the selection process. "We were very pleased with our results," Barth said.

While residents, administrators and board members welcomed the new superintendent, Dr. Jaroslaw and the board bid farewell to board of education President John McGrath. Thursday night marked the final public meeting in McGrath's tenure on the board. Donna Strein will be sworn in next month as the board's newest member.

McGrath has been a resident of the Mineola School District for 14 years and has a daughter who is a graduate from the high school as well as one who is attending the middle school.

He publicly wished Strein, his opponent in last month's election, well on her upcoming stint on the board. He also thanked the community members, district staff members and numerous employees as well as his present and past colleagues on the board for helping to make being a board member an enriching experience.

"Everybody in the school district has been very supportive in what we were trying to do. We've been very successful in getting things done," McGrath said, citing last year's successful bond referendum. "The job could not be done without the support of the community and the central office and its staff."

Dr. Jaroslaw thanked McGrath on behalf of his colleagues in the district. "We certainly appreciate the work you have done with us and for us," he said. "We are very grateful for your service on the board."

Although McGrath's tenure on the board has come to an end, he will continue to stay active in the district as a member of the middle school's site-based team. "I look forward to interacting with them [the members of the board] in a different capacity," he said.

Demolition of the old Willis Avenue School building is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1. It will take approximately two and a half months to complete. The problem of parking for the new school was once again brought up at the school board meeting. Dr. Jaroslaw said the parking situation is being discussed with the village so that more than 49 parking spaces designed for the building can be achieved. Dr. Jaroslaw said that there are two options being considered with the village. However, he wasn't at liberty to discuss what they are since the village has not made formal recommendations. "This is something we keep putting on the table, but clearly they [the village board] are aware that 49 spaces are not enough," he said. The district's annual report of the history of the school year, beginning July 1, 2000 and going up until the present time, as seen through the eyes of the administrators and faculty of the district will be available at each of the schools in the district for residents to review. McGrath strongly urged people to view a copy at their local school. A search for a new high school principal is under way. As was the case with the search for a superintendent, Dr. Jaroslaw is leading the principal search as well. Dr. Jaroslaw made it clear that the search will not be limited to just internal candidates. The district will seek candidates internally and externally in an attempt to find the most qualified person.