Search on – again – for a BVA superintendent; substitute superintendent George Lammay resigned Wednesday

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

A little more than a week after appointing a substitute superintendent, the Belle Vernon Area School Board is again seeking someone to fill in for the top spot in the district.
George Lammay submitted his letter of resignation, effective immediately, Wednesday.
“I need to be cognizant of my health at this time in my life,” Lammay said in an interview with the MVI Wednesday afternoon. “Belle Vernon certainly needs someone in that seat who can be all in and I don’t know that I can be that person right now.”
The board was scheduled to ratify his position as substitute superintendent at the upcoming board meeting Monday, filling in for Dr. Michele Dowell who is on leave until her resignation becomes effective Aug. 13. At that point, Lammay would have become the acting superintendent until the district filled the position permanently.
“We appreciate his hard work and professionalism,” said school board President Dan Engstrom.
The board held an emergency meeting by phone Wednesday evening.
“The emergency meeting is to identify an immediate replacement for the unexpected vacancy,” Engstrom said.
Lammay’s resignation left the district with no one in charge of district administration.
School Director Joel Whiteko said Lammay had been sitting in on the interviews for a permanent superintendent, offering recommendations to the board.
“A lot of school districts have an assistant superintendent to bridge the gap if a superintendent is on vacation,” Whiteko said, noting that Belle Vernon Area doesn’t have an assistant superintendent.
“We have a lot on our plate. We have a solicitor leaving; we need a principal. We need to shore up the gap to provide some experience,” Whiteko said. “We have a health and safety plan we need to release.”
Whiteko said the board has several options available for a substitute superintendent, which were being discussed Wednesday, with the possibility of extending an offer to someone. Whiteko said filling the position as soon as possible is important.
“You’re getting ready to open schools within a month. That whole transition needs to take place,” Whiteko said.
School Director Joe Grata said the board has put itself in the current position.
“It’s a shame. We have an exodus of people either leaving the district or changing positions, creating a lot of turmoil, all of which could have been avoided,” Grata said. “I hope we can get it resolved and have an orderly restart of school.”