NEWS

Wappingers schools chief won't run Mahopac schools

Nina Schutzman
Poughkeepsie Journal

WAPPINGERS FALLS –

Wappingers Superintendent Marco Pochintesta, left, and school board President Ved Shravah listen to speakers from the audience Monday.

Wappingers Central School District Superintendent Marco Pochintesta wasn't tapped to lead a nearby Putnam County-based school district.

Pochintesta was one of two final candidates for the Mahopac Central School District superintendent role.

The board chose John Kopicki for the spot, they announced via news release today.

"The Mahopac Board of Education will have its attorney begin contract negotiations with Mr. Kopicki," the release stated. "We are most proud of how our community came together to collaborate on this search."

A salary of $208,000, plus $67,800 in benefits, was budgeted by the district for the 2013-14 school year for outgoing Mahopac superintendent Thomas Manko, according to the property tax report card.

Pochintesta has been Wappingers superintendent since March 1, 2013. He has a three-year contract.

He has a salary of $190,000 and gets $58,000 in benefits this school year, the property tax report card states.

He took over as interim superintendent in April 2012 after former Superintendent James Parla stepped down from the position. Parla was superintendent for a little less than three years.