Be it on the level of village government or the board of education, people are either retiring or moving on. Heading for greener pastures is exiting building superintendent Michael D. Filippon, who will stay on until October to help his successor, after spending 36 years overseeing the review and approval process for thousands of construction projects. On the educational side of the village, the Garden City Board of Education recently bid adieu to Dr. Fino Celano and Dr. Teresa Prendergast, both of whom left to become superintendents of Herricks Public Schools and Great Neck Public Schools respectively. The 2015-16 school year will see the duo’s replacements, Dr. Edward Cannone and Dr. Maureen Appiarius, stepping in. Cannone will be the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction while Appiarius will be the new assistant superintendent for personnel. Both hires come with a boatload of experience, having worked in a number of equally high-performing districts including Half Holl Hills, Herricks, Locust Valley and Jericho Public Schools. Credit goes to the board of education for moving so quickly in filling these vacancies with hires that have such a high caliber background. Expect someone of a similar professional caliber to fill Fillipon’s role.
—Dave Gil de Rubio
