Ed board names Syriac next Seymour superintendent

Anne M. Amato, Staff Writer
SEYMOUR — The Board of Education Monday night selected Associate Superintendent Christine Syriac to take over as superintendent beginning in July 2012.

She will succeed Superintendent Mary Anne Mascolo when she retires at that time.

In a 7-2 vote, the board approved Syriac, who was the only person interviewed for the position, said Ed Strumello, board chairman.

“We were looking for continuity and we felt it would be best to go in-house to fill the position,” he said following Monday’s vote.

Strumello said Syriac comes highly qualified having held a number of positions within the Seymour school system, including teacher and principal, before becoming associate superintendent.

“We also felt it was important to move quickly on this because we were afraid we might lose her to another school district,” he said.

“She’s an excellent choice,” added Jeanne Loda, another board member.”She’s done a fabulous job, and her qualifications are outstanding.”

Loda said Syriac knows the Seymour school system “inside and out and that’s a real plus.”

Mascolo, who announced her retirement plans in January, was hired as an assistant superintendent in 2006. She became superintendent several years later when then-Superintendent Tom Petruny retired due to health issues.

Petruny, a Seymour schools administrator for 13 years, including five as its top official, died in July 2009 after battling cancer.

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