GRAHAMSVILLE –– It was a busy evening for the Tri-Valley Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday night. The board has appointed Dr. William Silver to serve as the district’s acting superintendent effective July 29.

Silver’s appointment comes approximately a month after Tri-Valley Superintendent of Schools Michael Williams was placed on administrative leave.

As the Democrat reported last month, New York State Police confirmed that Williams was arrested for DWI on Friday, June 25 in the Town of Neversink. According to a press release on the district’s website, at Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Education accepted Williams’ resignation effective August 31.

The position of acting superintendent had been held by Dr. Robert M. Dufour, District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Sullivan County BOCES, since early July.

Additional action taken by the Tri-Valley BOE at Tuesday’s meeting in regard to the position of superintendent included:

• Accepting the resignation of Acting Superintendent Dr. Dufour, effective July 28.

• Appointing Dr. Silver to the position of interim superintendent for the 2021-22 school year, effective Sept. 1 (An acting superintendent serves to fill the temporary vacancy caused by a superintendent’s extended absence or leave, in this case, the administrative leave of Michael Williams. An interim superintendent fulfills the duties of the role when a superintendent retires or resigns, and serves until a permanent replacement is named).
Silver retired in June 2017 from Liberty Central School District after four decades in the field of education, including more than 20 years as a superintendent in New York and Connecticut. He most recently served as interim superintendent for the Monticello Central School District.

“Dr. Silver is an experienced educator and superintendent who comes to us with a deep knowledge of the local community,” said TVCSD Board of Education President, Keri Poley, on behalf of the school board. “We are very pleased that he will be leading our district into the new school year.”

Silver told the Democrat that he plans on keeping the “ship on course” as the district searches for a permanent superintendent. He joked that he failed retirement for a second time, but added, “I’m happy to be able to fill in and look forward to working with staff, administration and the board.”