District Hires New Principal, Interim Super Next on BOE Agenda

The Babylon School District has hired a new Memorial Grade School principal, Randee Bonagura, at a salary of $130,000.

Bonagura, who will start her new job July 1, is currently an assistant principal in the Copiague School district and spent five years as an English language arts and remedial math educator in the Wantagh School District. According to district officials, who made the announcement at Monday night’s board of education meeting, the new hire has eight years of teaching elementary school as well.

“She’s a soft spoken, thoughtful educator who I think is very much needed and will be appreciated by the school community,” said Babylon Superintendent Ellen Best-Laimit, noting that Bonugura holds a doctorate from Hofstra University.

The district conducted two search efforts to find a new elementary principal to replace Eric Freidman who is retiring, explained the superintendent.

“We initiated the search last December with the process including community members, parents, teachers and administrators. We reopened the elementary search and discovered a whole new cadre of potential people and stellar candidates,” said Best-Laimit.

In regard to determining the hiring salary she said the district reviewed other administrator salaries in districts similar in size and population.

In April the district hired another principal, Al Cirone, to lead the Junior-Senior High School as current principal Robert Visbal is retiring this month.

Cirone, according to a district newsletter, has served as assistant principal at Lindenhurst High School since 2005. Before that role he served as coordinator of practical arts for career and technical education in the district. Cirone also begins his new job on July 1.

The board of education is now focused on hiring a new superintendent given Best-Laimit’s retirement as of August.

Board members said they intend to appoint an interim superintendent as they review possible personnel search strategies.

“We need leadership as we explore search options,” said board member Thomas Melito, stating that the board has posted an in-house notice for candidates interested in serving as interim leader. “It’s the responsible thing to do,” said board member Dominic P. Bencivenga.

The board expects to name the interim at the next meeting slated for Monday, June 20 at 7:30 pm at the high school library.