District 30 welcomes new superintendent

District 30 has chosen the assistant superintendent of a north shore school district to serve as its new schools chief. Dr. Nicholas Stirling’s first day on the job will be Aug. 13.

Stirling was chosen from a pool of nearly 80 applicants, and was one of three finalists for the job. He is the assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment for the Port Washington School District, a position he has held for the past five years.

The District 30 Board of Education unanimously approved his appointment on Tuesday night. Stirling succeeds Dr. Elaine Kanas, who left Valley Stream after four years to head the East Williston School District.

Stirling took the oath of office on Tuesday and said he looks forward to getting to work in Valley Stream. “I come here with an open mind, an open heart and an energy to really help the district move to the next level, whatever that may be,” he said.

Stirling received a three-year contract and will be paid $207,000 in his first year. He has also worked in the Greenburg Central School District 7 in Westchester and in the White Plains public schools. He has held many positions in his career including principal, business teacher and cooperative education coordinator.

“It was decided that Dr. Stirling possesses the professional qualifications, experience and vision to lead our school district to the next level of success,” said school board President Carolyn Pean. “All the candidates were excellent; he was the best qualified for our district.”

Board Vice President Cristobal Stewart said the trustees were seeking a candidate who had good business, personnel and instructional skills. “The board was very keen on looking for a leader who could take us to that next level of excellence,” Stewart said. “We’re very eager to improve upon, I think, an already stellar record.”

Stirling already has some objectives in mind for his tenure as superintendent, and they include making sure that students are achieving their goals, seeing that the district’s faculty collaborate with one another and ensuring that the district is financially secure.

The board appointed Lisa Rutkoske, the assistant superintendent for business, to serve as acting superintendent until Stirling begins.

Though he is still getting to know the district’s board members and administrators, Stirling said that there is a clear commitment to students and a desire to move the district forward. “I am thrilled to be a part of that team,” he said, “and I look forward to a long career here.”

On Aug. 27, Stirling will be officially welcomed at a reception in the Shaw Avenue School Library. The reception, which will be open to the public, will take place immediately after the Board of Education meeting scheduled for 8 p.m.