Derby, Orange schools chiefs lose out on Torrington job

Derby Superintendent Stephen Tracy and Orange Superintendent Timothy James lost out on becoming the interim school superintendent in Torrington to an internal candidate.
The Board of Education voted Tuesday night to negotiate with Cheryl Kloczko as the interim superintendent.
Kloczko, the district’s director of special programs, was chosen over five others, including Tracy and James.
Tracy, 63, who has been with the Derby schools since June 2008, said Tuesday afternoon he had an interview last week with the school board in Torrington.
"It is the city next to where I live — in Goshen," Tracy said. He said the location of the job was a consideration.
Derby is about an hour’s drive from Goshen.
Philip Robertson, Derby chief administrative officer, said Tracy last week made Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri aware of the interview.
Staffieri could not be reached for comment.
James, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, has announced that he is retiring from the Orange system at the end of the year.
According to the Register Citizen newspaper in Torrington, the school board held more than 10 hours of interviews and discussions in three weeks. The paper reported that the school board wanted a candidate familiar with the district, and will start an aggressive search for a permanent superintendent later this year.