Cohoes school official one of two finalists to lead Granville district

GRANVILLE>> An administrator in the Cohoes City School District is one of two finalists to become the next superintendent of the Granville Central School District.

Cohoes Assistant Superintendent Peggy O’Shea and Thomas McGurl, grades 6-12 principal for the Fort Edward Union Free School District, were selected to give public presentations later this week before participating in final interviews with Granville’s Board of Education. O’Shea is scheduled to give a presentation from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, with McGurl scheduled for 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, with both to be held in the high school auditorium.

“The Board of Education is pleased to have narrowed our thorough search to two such qualified candidates,” board President Audrey Hicks said in a news release from the district. “We are confident that the future of the educational leadership in Granville will be in good hands with either candidate at the helm.”

The district began its search in October to replace Mark Bessen, who retired in January after seven years on the job. District oifficials used an online survey to get public input and formed advisory committees to continue to offer feedback throughout the process.

“Using this information, the board conducted interviews and received feedback on both individuals from two advisory committees ,” James Dexter, superintendent of Warren-SaratogaWashington-Hamilton-Essex BOCES, said in the district’s release. “I was pleased with the professional and rigorous process that the board put in place.”