By JEFF MORRIS
The Bedford Central Board of Education extended the contract of Superintendent Robert Glass, which was not set to expire until 2026, by two years at its meeting Nov. 20.
It also approved a title change and added responsibilities for one of his assistant superintendents.
In a resolution that was part of the consent agenda, it was noted that Glass’ current contract expires June 30, 2026. Saying that it “believes that extending the Superintendent›s contract is in the best interest of the school district, allowing for continuity in leadership and strategic initiatives,” the board approved a contract addendum extending the term of the contract for an additional two years, from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028.
“I want to congratulate Dr. Glass on his contract extension, for his tireless efforts, integrity and good humor in this period of time leading this organization together with this board,” said trustee Robert Mazurek. “It started with an entry plan, and community conversations and outreach and is continuing still to this day.”
Mazurek said these were his highlights: “We hired three new principals, a new literacy curriculum, a special education review ongoing, financial and staffing post-COVID grant restructuring, and many, many board committees with all sorts of reviews, discussions and plans. So here’s to you — congratulations.”
“I want to thank you for being a joy to work with and for placing your trust in me,” said Glass. “Know that my team and I will continue to give you everything we have. This is an amazing school district and we’re going to continue on the journey toward being the greatest school district out there.”
In another administrative move, the board approved a resolution for a title change for Tom Cole, from assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, to assistant superintendent for business and operations.
The resolution stated that the district recognizes the importance of clear titles that accurately reflect the roles and responsibilities of its administrative personnel, and
that the board and administration have a strategic interest in strengthening operational excellence. It said “the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Administrative Services has stepped forward to embrace broader operational responsibilities, necessitating a change in title to better align with the envisioned scope of duties.”
The resolution also noted it is imperative to strengthen operational fidelity within the district, “ensuring that all business and operational functions are executed with the highest standards of integrity and efficiency.”
The additional responsibilities that the assistant superintendent for business and operations will assume are said to include, but not be limited to: overseeing the implementation of operational policies and procedures to ensure compliance and effectiveness; leading efforts to enhance financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation; collaborating with other district leaders to support strategic initiatives and continuous improvement; and ensuring alignment of operational strategies with the district’s overall goals and objectives. These additional responsibilities, the resolution said, are aimed at strengthening operational fidelity and enhancing the overall effectiveness of district operations.
Board president Gilian Klein thanked Cole for “crafting a budget that got us back into a very healthy place, stability, and moving forward with a long-range plan that will benefit our students and our families.” Glass added that he wanted to thank the board for having high standards for operational work, and thank Mr. Cole “for stepping forward to do this. It required a commitment, and we asked him to do this and he accepted. We’re very grateful.”