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Mostly Cloudy Lynbrook appoints interim superintendent
Melissa Burak to take over Barbarino’s role
The Lynbrook Board of Education named Dr. Melissa Burak, assistant superintendent for business, as the district’s interim superintendent at a special meeting held at Lynbrook High School on Sept. 5. The announcement came eight days after the untimely death of the district’s superintendent, Dr. Santo Barbarino.
After taking a moment of silence in Barbarino’s memory, several statements read by Board President Cathy Papandrew touched on the community’s sadness, the decision to appoint Burak to interim superintendent, ways the district will look to honor Barbarino and where the board stands in finding someone to fill his shoes.
“The Board has complete confidence that Dr. Burak will be able to effectively implement and oversee the day-to-day operations of our school district,” Papandrew said.
Burak, who is in her 20th year in the district, has served as assistant superintendent for business since 2001. She will continue to work in that role in addition to interim superintendent.
“While no one can replace Dr. B,” Burak said, “as he was a wonderful role model and friend to us all, I promise to do my best to continue the strong Lynbrook tradition, which has made the Lynbrook School District such a special place in which to raise one’s family.”
“As we transition, we just want to make sure that we continue the plans that we had established for this upcoming school year,” she said, “and support one another as we work on meeting all of the state mandates and the needs of the district.”
