Michael Cornell, the superintendent of Hamburg Central Schools who emerged as a regional voice on education issues, is stepping down after nine years in the post.
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Hamburg Central Superintendent Michael Cornell will retire Dec. 31.
The School Board accepted his resignation Tuesday and named Middle School Principal Thomas Adams as his successor.
Cornell took over amid a chaotic time – including a superintendent who resigned in disgrace – but now leaves what some call a “destination district.” He faced one of his greatest challenges this spring, when the district announced the layoff of 20 teachers and staff. Some community members called for his ouster.
Cornell and board members said that he told the School Board in November that he planned to retire when he was eligible in August.
“After some conversation, I offered to stay until Dec. 31 of 2024 to assist in a proper transition for a new superintendent,” he said at the board meeting.
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He said his wife, who was a teacher at North Tonawanda High School, also retired this year.
“We always said that we wanted to retire as close together as we could and do it while we still loved the work,” said Cornell, who is president of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association.
The superintendent’s association took on more duties during the pandemic when superintendents regularly met online. Cornell became a liaison between educators and county officials over pandemic procedures. He also speaks regularly on education issues affecting all districts by virtue of his leadership position. He also is co-chairman of the State Legislative Committee for the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
Board President Thomas Flynn praised Cornell for guiding the district with a shared vision and culture of collaboration and leadership. He said the district has been successful in cultivating new leaders.
Hamburg Athletic Director and Middle School Principal Thomas Adams will be the district’s new superintendent.
“This cultivation has led the board to decide that our next superintendent will be Thomas Adams, our middle school principal,” Flynn said.
The board sent Adams for superintendent training a few years ago and appointed him athletic director last year in addition to being principal, Flynn said. That allowed board members to see how he would manage the additional responsibilities, he said. Adams has been the middle school principal for five years.
Flynn said the board decided to appoint Adams without a further search.
“He is already accepted throughout the school community, has a strong track record within the district,” he said.
The once-dysfunctional Hamburg School District has done away with the disharmony and moved on from its more controversy-filled days. Board meetings these days are business as
The board’s two newest members, attending their first meeting, did not agree with the process. Mary Odden and Ashley Rapsinski said they had heard good things about Adams.
Odden abstained from the vote, saying she was not part of the process that led to his selection, while Rapsinski was one of six yes votes.
“It is nothing against Tom. It is only that I didn’t feel like I was adequately prepared tonight to review everything,” Odden said.
Rapsinski said a search would have allowed community stakeholders to be part of the process, and Adams would have stood out in the search.
“Moving forward, I look forward to transparency and competitive vetting of all candidates for positions,” she said.
Vice President Cameron Hall said to enter into a search when the board had already decided on the candidate would show a lack of transparency.
He said the board had been eyeing Adams long before Cornell told members in November he was planning to retire. He also said that information was shared in executive session, and board members were prevented from discussing it in public.