The East Ramapo School District is poised for a significant change in leadership as Superintendent Clarence Ellis is set to depart when his contract concludes in June 2024. This announcement comes at a critical juncture for the district, which is grappling with escalating enrollment figures, ongoing issues with the conditions of its buildings, and the prospect of another financial shortfall.
In preparation for this transition, the Board of Education, in a meeting on October 24, resolved to engage the services of a search firm to appoint Ellis’s successor, with the intent of having the new superintendent in place by July 1, 2024. The board did not provide commentary during the meeting regarding this move, and Ellis has not offered any immediate remarks on the matter.
Board President Shimon Rose acknowledged the planned leadership change in a formal statement, emphasizing the board’s commitment to an open search process. He invited the community to contribute their perspectives on what they desire in the next superintendent. Rose also expressed the board’s anticipation of working collaboratively with Dr. Ellis for the remainder of his tenure.
Dr. Ellis took the helm of the East Ramapo district in July 2021, under a three-year agreement with a starting annual salary of $263,000. He stepped into the role following interim superintendent Raymond Giamartino, who himself succeeded Deborah Wortham after her five-year leadership term. Prior to his position in East Ramapo, Dr. Ellis served as the superintendent of the Community School District 17 in Brooklyn, part of the New York City Department of Education.