ZEKE WRIGHT

Staff Writer

CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. -- Cambridge Central School's new associate principal brings both administrative and special education experience to the table.

School board members appointed the new administrator at a special meeting July 23, ahead of the start of the upcoming school year. Owen Maranville of Bolton Landing received a three-year probationary appointmen as the top pick among a half-dozen candidates considered during the search.

Maranville's most recent title was supervisor of special education for Champlain Valley Educational Services BOCES. Before that he served as a special education school improvement specialist for the Capital Region BOCES, following six years as a special education teacher at Hadley-Luzerne Central School.

In a letter to faculty, school Superintendent Vincent Canini called Maranville the "overwhelming" consensus choice for the interview committee.

"We were looking for someone with administrative experience. And a concentration in special education -- but that wasn't the driving focus," said Canini on Tuesday. While the title at CCS specifies associate high school principal, the position will encompass duties building-wide, kindergarten through Grade 12, in light of new administrative requirements surrounding teacher evaluations.

The associate principal will also continue to substitute as needed in the elementary.

Canini said an initial pool of 130 applicants was whittled down by a committee of administrators, teachers, and support staff to a selection of six candidates. Four agreed to be interviewed and "the first choice accepted our position," Canini said.

Board President Kerri Brown said board members sat down with the candidate before the appointment to ask questions. She said Maranville had a "great background" working with a variety of students, including those with behavioral problems, and addressing bullying.

That expertise is all the more valuable following the elimination of a director of special education post in 2010-11. "From that standpoint, we have an individual with a much better background in special education," said Canini.

Maranville received a three-year probationary appointment, effective Aug. 22, through Aug. 21, 2015, filling a position vacated in June. Total compensation remains the same. Maranville's salary is split between $68,000 for the tenure area of associate principal plus master's degree, and an additional $6,800 for duties as the school's CSE (Committee on Special Education) co-chairman.

Maranville holds a bachelor's degree in general and special education and a master's in special education from SUNY Plattsburgh, where he also received a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership for secondary and higher education. He previously received an associate's degree from Adirondack Community College in 1998.

Maranville was unavailable for comment Tuesday.