When interim Superintendent Frank Miele came out of retirement to take the district’s top job, he inherited the fallout from his predecessor’s controversial resignation, a divided school board and a failed budget.
Miele, a Connecticut resident and Mahopac High School graduate, retired as the district’s athletic director in 2020. He returned this fall after Superintendent Christine Tona announced her retirement (under pressure, according to sources) just weeks before the start of the school year. Miele was appointed to lead the district while a search for a permanent superintendent is conducted.
Five months into the role, Miele said the role has been rewarding.
“It’s the coolest job I’ve ever had,” he said. “Something positive happens every day.”
Miele said his priorities include maintaining a strong learning environment, fostering accountability and promoting a positive culture throughout the district. He defined a healthy learning environment as one where students are able to be their best without unnecessary interference.
He credited district clerk Melody LaRocca as an essential part of the district’s operation. LaRocca resigned last year to take a position in Putnam Valley before returning to the Mahopac Central School District in September.
“I couldn’t do this job without Melody,” Miele said.
In an interview late last year, Miele pointed to several accomplishments completed during his first months in the role.
Students at Fulmar Road Elementary School will receive a new light and sound system in time for their talent showcase. The district refinished the tennis courts at Mahopac High School. Literacy coaches, education professionals who support teachers, now have a dedicated workspace of their own. MCSD also launched a financial literacy education initiative.
When Miele began his tenure as interim superintendent, the findings of a costly special education audit, which was finalized in January 2025, had not been shared with parents. Miele and Director of Special Education Corinne Safarowic (appointed in August) reviewed the audit and formed an ad hoc special education subcommittee to discuss the findings and collaborate on solutions.
A follow-up review is underway to identify additional areas for improvement. Following a contentious school board meeting in September where the subject of the audit was raised, Miele said the district has implemented a new system of communication with families in the special education community.
Miele said he is also pleased with how the district has adapted to New York’s statewide cell phone restrictions, which took effect this academic year.
“When I go into classrooms, I don’t see phones,” he said. “In the hallways and cafeteria, you hear students actually talking with each other.”
He also cited efforts to improve staff morale, including renovations to the staff break room at the Falls School building. Miele said that last year, some staff members ate lunch in their cars. The space has since been repainted and furnished with additional seating.
“I think the staff feels supported,” he said.
Miele emphasized that he does not intend to seek the permanent superintendent position and plans to leave the post in June. He said his goal is to remove obstacles for his successor. A source with knowledge of the search for a permanent superintendent told Mahopac News the process is “underway” and that interviews have been scheduled.
Miele said his background as a longtime coach and educator has prepared him to handle the challenges running the district
“As a coach, you deal with every personality imaginable, and you have to make decisions on the spot,” he said. “I have the courage to make those decisions.”
He said the true measure of his tenure will be whether the district’s proposed budget is approved by voters on May 19.
“Taxes in Mahopac are high,” Miele said. “People need to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.”
Last year, voters initially rejected the district’s budget, which carried a 1.89 percent tax hike when it appeared on the ballot in May. The same $144,183,447 budget passed in a June revote after higher-than-expected state aid allowed the district to cut the tax increase to 0 percent.
Miele said the district is taking a line-by-line approach to budgeting, focusing on identifying waste, evaluating contracts and closely reviewing overtime and staffing levels — concerns frequently raised by residents during the 2024–2025 budget season.
“We’re looking at ways to save money while continuing to provide what our community expects,” he said.
Miele praised district employees for their work and said he remains grateful for the opportunity to serve.
“Our staff is doing an amazing job,” he said. “I’m humbled and proud to be part of this district.”
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