Wantagh School District Appoints Two New Administrators

Three weeks after the resignation of three Wantagh administrators, two replacements have been named.

The Wantagh Board of Education approved probationary appointments for assistant superintendent for curriculum and athletic director at its Aug. 25 meeting held inside the Auditorium. Superintendent Dr. Lydia Begley, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Patricia Krizan and Athletic Director Dan Butler all in early August.

Wantagh’s newly appointed curriculum chief is Dr. Maureen Appiarius, who will begin her duties on Oct. 1 at a salary of $162,000. Dr. Appiarius was previously Assistant Principal at Jericho High School and served as the district's kindergarten through 12th grade coordinator. 

"I look forward to working in the Wantagh school community," said Appiarius moments after the school board approved her appointment. "I come to you with too many years of experience that I wish to admit but I am looking forward to making that experience helpful and enriching for the Wantagh school community." 

Jennifer Keane was appointed as Wantagh's new athletic director, a position she will begin on Sept. 26 at a salary of $117,403. Keane also comes from the Jericho School District, where she served as a physical education teacher and athletic trainer.

"I'm excited to become a part of the Wantagh family," said Kean.

The school board also approved a motion moving up Dr. Begley's departure date from Oct. 3 to Sept. 26. Begley is to become Nassau BOCES’s new associate superintendent for educational services after two years as superintendent and spending the previous decade as the district's curriculum chief. 

Wantagh Board of Education president William Russack said they would be hiring an interim superintendent for the 2011/12 school year with plans to begin the search process for a permanent replacement starting in January.