This article appeared in the Daily Gazette on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005

Interim schools chief to start in March
Ex-superintendent in Niskayuna was only candidate for $550-a-day position

By VICTORIA R. SPAGNOLI Gazette Reporter

J. Briggs McAndrews

A former area school superintendent will take over from outgoing Scotia-GlenvilleSuperintendent Michael Marcelle when he leaves in April.
J. Briggs McAndrews was hired by the Scotia-Glenville Board of Education Monday night to replace Marcelle on an interim basis until the board hires a new superintendent. McAndrews will be paid $550 a day, according to Robert Hanlon, district spokesman.
The board conducted interviews last week for the temporary superintendent and McAndrews was the only candidate, he said.
Marcelle, who has been superintendent at Scotia-Glenville since 1996, announced e a r l i e r t h i s month that he was leaving the district to become superintendent of the South Colonie School District.
T h e S o u t h Colonie district is larger than Scotia-Glenville, with a student population of 5,800 and a $69 million budget; Scotia-Glenville has 3,000 students and a budget of $37 million. At Scotia-Glenville, Marcelle’s salary is $123,000, which will increase to $147,000 at South Colonie.
His last day at Scotia-Glenville will be April 22. McAndrews will start on March 15, but won’t be full time until Marcelle’s departure.
McAndrews will take over for Marcelle right in the middle of the district’s budget process. Hanlon said the district’s 2005-2006 budget should be developed before Marcelle leaves, but McAndrews will take over in time to help oversee the public hearing and subsequent vote in May.
The school board recently hired the Capital Region BOCES to assist in the search for a new superintendent.
McAndrews was superintendent at Niskayuna Central School District from 1992 to 2002 when he retired. He was replaced by Kevin Baughman. Prior to working at Niskayuna, McAndrews was assistant superintendent for education programs and instruction in Bethlehem from 1973 to 1992. He began his career in 1966 as a biology teacher at West Scranton High School in Scranton, Pa.
After he retired from Niskayuna he became interim executive director at the Schenectady Museum, serving until April 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from East Stroudsburg University, a master’s degree in natural science from Colgate University, and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.