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Depew post vacated just before classes start
Two weeks before students return to school, the Depew School District is looking for a new superintendent of buildings and grounds after the announcement of Joseph Farr's resignation from that position.
Farr accepted a similar position with the West Seneca School District. His last day with Depew is September 7.
"(We accept this resignation) with regret," Sue Wagner, board vice president, said at Tuesday's Depew Board of Education meeting.
"We wish him well," Board President Steve Carmina added.
The board announced it has al- ready posted the job for interested applicants. The posting will last until August 29, according to Kim Mueller, Depew's new superintendent who was sworn in earlier that evening. She replaces Robert F. DeFilippo, who retired.
Mueller said she was happy to report that Farr offered his services as a consultant and said he would be available if needed after he begins to serve in his new district.
"I've only been here for two weeks, but have enjoyed that time with him," Mueller said. "He seems like a very good guy and knowledgeable, so he'll be missed."
Mueller said the district is in the process of updating the description of the job and hopes to have the position filled as soon as possible.
"Usually what happens is that a job description hasn't been rewritten in a while so really we're updating it to make it as up-to-date as possible," she said.
The transition will be made slightly more difficult since Depew is planning its approximately $33 million capital improvement project.
A representative from the project's construction manager, LP Ciminelli, Inc., was also at the meeting to provide a brief status report of the project and to provide the board with a project time line.
Tim Jones, project executive, said LPCiminelli, Inc. is working with Cannon Design to create estimates as part of the process of approving a schematic design. Jones was happy to report that the two firms were within five percent of each other in their initial cost assessments.
Jones said at this early point in the process, the project is on time and current cost estimates remain at original figures.
Construction is slated to begin in July 2008 and end August 2009, but Jones believes that some work, such as roof replacement and asbestos abatement, can be started even earlier than anticipated in order to get ahead in the project.
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