Dansville appoints interim school superintendent after Alioto retirement. Search underway.

A veteran public school administrator in Livingston County is retiring.

Dr. Paul Alioto, the superintendent of the Dansville Central School District for more than 13 years, resigned for the purpose of retirement, with the school board officially accepting the long-time school chief's resignation Tuesday.

In tandem with that move, the school board appointed Thomas Kopp interim superintendent of schools, effective Jan. 2, 2024.

Kopp's appointment runs through through the end of the academic year on June 30.

School: Alioto led 'transformation' of Dansville district

Alioto spent 35 years in education, including two decades as a school superintendent.

Alioto's leadership in Dansville "brought about a transformation in the school system," the school said in a statement, calling Alioto the "driving force in the District's success."

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The statement added, "Under his guidance, the District introduced comprehensive strategic planning, democratic decision-making processes, and cultivated a culture of collaboration, and continuous improvement."

Alioto was honored by the New York State Council of School Superintendents in September.

Before his tenure at Dansville, Alioto served as the superintendent at the Clifton-Fine Central School District.

Search for permanent superintendent timeline

The school board said it "will resume the process of searching for a new superintendent" after the holidays, with Kevin MacDonald continuing as search consultant.

The school board said its goal remains to hire a "qualified and dynamic leader" as new superintendent, with a selection made before the end of April.

"In this phase of the process, the Board will carefully consider aspects of the earlier search, adjusting its approach to attract a diverse pool of candidates," the school board said.

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Dansville BOE: Kopp has experience as school superintendent

The district said "Kopp brings a wealth of experience" to the interim superintendent role, including six plus years as the superintendent at the Keshequa Central School District.

Kopp's familiarity with the area, Genesee Valley BOCES, and some employees contributed to the Board's selection, officials said.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Veteran Dansville school superintendent Alioto retires