Good evening Pine Bush Community,

This is Donna Geidel.  Please be aware that the board of education appointed me as the interim superintendent through July 18, 2022.  I return to the district from retirement with a heavy heart.  Tim Mains was a dear friend and mentor.  I am grateful for his leadership and compassion and realize how much we have all been impacted by his passing.  During my tenure, my number one priority will be the physical and mental health of our entire school community.  Although I realize that this will be particularly challenging due to COVID, I promise to communicate with you frankly and honestly.  Unfortunately, we have all learned over the past two years that COVID is very tricky and the rules, regulations and updates change daily which often leads to anxiety, frustration and confusion.  Our team will do our best to share information as it becomes available.

My next priority will be to conduct a search for our next superintendent.  Our board of education is committed to engaging staff, students, parents, and community members in this process. They have already begun to develop a plan with the assistance of William J. Hecht, OU-BOCES C.O.O. and search consultant and his senior administrative team. Once the details are finalized, I will share them with all of you. Since the timeline is tight, I will ask you to “save the date” of Wednesday, Jan. 26 to participate in forums that will be held in the Pine Bush High School cafeteria at the following times:

• Secondary staff and faculty:  2:45 p.m.
• Elementary staff and faculty:  3:45 p.m.
• Parents and community members:  7 p.m.
• Secondary students will also be invited to participate during school hours in their respective buildings

In the near future, I will be sending links with a formal invitation to these forums and an online survey. I encourage all of you to participate in one or both of these opportunities so that your thoughts and opinions are considered as we develop a rubric to assist with candidate selection.  

I look forward to working together again with my favorite community. Thank you in advance for your patience, kindness and respect. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your questions and/or concerns. I will continue to honor Mr. Mains’ legacy by responding in a timely manner.

Thank you for your unwavering support of the PBCSD.  Stay PB Strong and we will get through this challenging time!