In 2011, the State Legislature enacted Chapter 97 which is most well known for establishing the 2% real property tax cap. However, the legislation also included a number of important provisions for mandate relief for school districts, including a provision promoted by State Assemblyman Fred Thiele which enacted Section 1527-c of the State Education Law.

Specifically, Thiele’s proposal permits up to three (3) school districts with enrollments of 1,000 students or less to enter into a contract to share a School Superintendent. It could not impair any existing School Superintendent employment contract in effect before July 1, 2013. There are 19 school districts in Suffolk County with 1,000 or fewer students, mostly on the East End. Before the enactment of Chapter 97, each district was required to have its own School Superintendent.

Southold and Greenport School Districts, with enrollments of 850 and 650, respectively, are the first school districts on Long Island to take advantage of the new law. They will share a School Superintendent beginning July of 2014.

Thiele stated, “I was proud to shepherd the Shared Superintendent Program through the State Legislature in 2011. I am equally proud that the first school districts have taken advantage of the program. Southold and Greenport are to be commended for taking advantage of this opportunity to share administrative services and reduce taxes. Other East End school districts should take a hard look at this groundbreaking initiative.”