Dr. John Richman, an educator with more than 30 years of experience as an educator, was appointed by the board of education on April 12 as Roslyn's new superintendent of schools. The appointment is effective as of July 1.

"The board's vote for Dr. Richman was not only unanimous but enthusiastic," said Board President Dani Kline. "We conducted a very thorough search process, during which we met several outstanding candidates. In Dr. Richman, we found a leader with a rare combination of outstanding skills, qualities and experience. We are confident that his high intelligence, sensitivity, administrative excellence and, most of all, educational vision will help to lead our school district into a new era."

Dr. Richman has spent the last eight years as superintendent of the Plainedge Public Schools, where he has been credited with transforming a district facing many challenges into one of the highest academic performing districts on Long Island. In his career, he has also served as superintendent of the Berkshire School District in Canaan, NY, assistant superintendent in the Rockville Centre School District, deputy superintendent for Questar III/Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene BOCES, and regional associate for the New York State Education Department's Office for Special Education. He began his career in education as a teacher of social studies/special education in Newburgh and Troy, where he was also an assistant principal.

"I am absolutely ecstatic about coming to Roslyn and honored by the trust the school board has placed in me," said Dr. Richman about his appointment. "I am very excited about this opportunity to help the school district build on its past success and continue the great strides the school community has made in recovering from the difficulties of the last few years."

Dr. Richman earned his doctorate in educational administration at Columbia University's Teachers College. He also holds two master's degrees, one in educational administration from SUNY Albany and the other in special education from the College of Saint Rose. He earned his BA in history/education at Hartwick College. He has recently been invited to become an adjunct assistant professor at Hofstra University in the Department of Educational Leadership.

During his tenure in Plainedge, Dr. Richman introduced a range of instructional and administrative innovations that helped to improve student performance from the lowest quartile in the county to the top 10 percent. In addition, he implemented financial reforms and a major capital improvement program.

The appointment of Dr. Richman, who will join the district officially on July 1, is the culmination of a search that began in the fall of 2005. Since 2004, the school district has been led by interim superintendents, David Helme and Gerard W. Dempsey, Jr., two longtime veterans of the Long Island public school system.

In other news, additional state tax will reduce the projected tax levy in the proposed school budget from a 3.9 percent increase to a 3.6 percent increase. School officials said that the average tax increase for homeowners is projected at 2.8 percent.