The East Ramapo school board on June 24 plans to vote on appointing Eric Stark, the current assistant superintendent of business, as interim superintendent of schools, records show.
He could also get a pay boost for the extra duties, and an increase to his regular pay.
Stark would serve as the third interim superintendent in as many years for the troubled district. Albeit this time, it appears the position could only be needed for up to a couple weeks, according to the board’s agenda as first reported by The Journal News/lohud.com.
Getting the state to sign off on super
East Ramapo’s board and its state-appointed monitors had butted heads earlier this year when the monitors rejected the board’s pick for a permanent superintendent.
The board launched a lawsuit against state Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa and the two monitors, who are appointed by Rosa, challenging their rejection. A state Supreme Court judge in Albany rejected their litigation, called an Article 78.
In East Ramapo, the monitors have certain powers, granted by the state Legislature, over the board’s decisions, including the ability to approve or reject a superintendent hire.
At the June 16 meeting, board President Shimon Rose said that a new superintendent candidate had been selected and that the monitors signed off on the hire. However, contract negotiations were continuing with the prospective superintendent and it was unclear if that would be completed by the time the current interim’s term was up.
Interim Superintendent Ana Reluzco leaves June 30. The district faced having no top leader in place when the 2026-2027 academic years starts on July 1.
According to the June 23 agenda documents, Stark’s appointment would be for July 1 and would not extend beyond Aug. 15.
The proposal before board members repeatedly states that the district is in need of an interim superintendent for “a short period of time.”
A stipend, pay boost and remote days
According to an amendment to the proposed contract, Stark would receive a daily stipend for performing the extra duties of $150 a day.
His base salary, as assistant superintendent of business, would also increase to $260,000 a year.
According to New York State Education Department records, The salary for Stark’s position was listed as $252,350 for the 2025-2026 school year.
The superintendent position was paid $300,000, NYSED records show.
Stark joined the district in August 2024. He has previously held business administration positions in North Salem and Carmel school districts in Westchester County, and served as interim superintendent in Carmel from July 2020 to February 2021.
The proposed contract amendment also would allow Stark, while serving as assistant superintendent of business, to work up to two days a week remotely, with the permission of the superintendent.
The amendment also states that the monitors had approved Stark as interim superintendent and that “the District is pleased with the outstanding dedication and work Mr. Stark has performed as Assistant Superintendent for Business.”
The board also is set to vote on appointing Christina Howe as interim assistant superintendent for finance & operations from July 1 to no later than Aug. 15. In that role, Howe would fulfill the assistant superintendent of business operations, according to a proposed agreement. A per diem pay rate is set at $1,100 for an eight-hour day or $137.50 an hour on partial days.
Unusual district with myriad challenges
East Ramapo is seen as a challenging district to lead.
East Ramapo, Rockland County’s largest school district, faces many unusual challenges. About 10,000 kids attend the public schools; the majority are English language learners. The district’s test scores have remained among the lowest in the state, chronic absenteeism has been a problem and overcrowding and other facilities issues have caused problems.
About 35,000 kids who reside in the district attend private schools, mostly yeshivas that serve a growing Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish community. East Ramapo operates the largest and most complex school transportation system in the state outside of New York City.
Meanwhile, community tensions are ever present. A federal voting rights challenge by the Spring Valley NAACP and NYCLU several years ago instituted a ward system for the nine-member board. But public-school activists say the board remains dominated by members who are seen as favoring private-school needs.
Nancy Cutler covers People & Policy. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on X, Bluesky and Instagram at @nancyrockland.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: East Ramapo to name interim superintendent at special meeting
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
