Castallo and Silky on the Web Castallo & Silky is listed as one of the major school superintendent search firms by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).  AASA is the national school superintendents' professional organization.     In 2005, Castallo & Silky conducted a grade and building organizational study for the South Lewis Central School District (NY).  At the time, the study recommended the district keep one particular elementary school open for at least two more years pending enrollment concerns.  Now the South Lewis Board has decided to close the school.  Read the Watertown (NY) Times January 18, 2012 that tells about this impending closure.     Dr. Silky advises school boards to carefully study some important variables before embarking on a school district merger study.  His caution was printed in the March 3, 2011 edition of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard.  Read what Dr. Silky had to say!
The Hannibal Central School District (N.Y.) Board of Education has invited Castallo & Silky to assist with its search for a new Superintendent of Schools.  Bill Silky and Lucy Martin will be working with the Board on this important task.  The Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard (April 14, 2011 edition) tells how the consultants helped the Board in hiring an interim superintendent to serve while the Board is conducting its search for a permanent appointee.  In a November 20,2011 edition, the Post-Standard goes on to tell how Dr. Silky has worked with various constituent groups to assist the Board in finalizing a desired profile of the next Superintendent. The article also outlines key dates in the search process. On February 1, 2012, Syracuse.com reports that the Hannibal Board has narrowed its pool of applicants to three finalists as reported by Dr. Silky.   The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (January 7, 2012) discusses the interest around New York State is possibly forming regional high schools. Among several studies exploring this concept is one (and the first) that Castallo & Silky conducted in Wayne County in 2010.  This may very well be an upcoming trend in New York as districts continue to grapple with financial difficulties.	Writing in the New York State School Boards' Association's publication, OnBoard (March 2009), Dr. Silky raises the issue if school district merger is the answer to a district's financial woes.  With his extensive experience conducting school reorganization studies, Dr. Silky has a unique experience to offer to any school district considering merging with a neighbor.  The Syracuse Post-Standard, in it's January 4, 2012 edition, tells that the West Genesee Central School District is about to embark on an elementary and middle school redistricting study.  It is also mentioned that the district has hired Castallo & Silky (even though the paper incorrectly identified our consulting group!) to conduct the study.  A district advisory committee has been established to assist us as we go about our work.  Dr. Silky and Mr. Pole will be leading this redistricting study.
	Castallo & Silky is working with the South Seneca Central School District and the Romulus Central School District (NY) on merger study of the two districts.  The Finger Lakes Times February 6, 2012 edition tells of the initial meeting of the two school boards to hear about the study process from Bill Silky and associate Alan Pole.  The merger study will be conducted between February and October 2012.  Read about this study and what the boards heard from the consultants.