PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh City School has selected two finalists for its High School principal position.

Catherine Oldenburg, vice commandant at Western New York Maritime Academy, and Glenn Hurlock, assistant principal at Plattsburgh High School, are the contenders.

PUBLIC FORUM
They will be on hand at a forum scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Duken Building gymnasium on Broad Street. The forum is open to the public.

"This is an opportunity to hear both candidates set their vision for Plattsburgh High School," said Superintendent James "Jake" Short.

"All who attend the forum will be able to fill out a feedback form and give input to me."

The position at the High School opened earlier this year when the School Board chose not to grant then-Principal John Fairchild tenure, despite vocal support from the public, students, faculty and staff.

Fairchild has since been hired as principal of Salmon River High School.

18 APPLIED
The PHS position drew 18 applicants from New York state, one from California and another from the United Kingdom.

Short said the finalists are both good candidates.

"In Glenn's case, it's the fact that he is a known commodity and has been in the school system and speaks with passion about the High School," he said.

"In Catherine's case, it's the experience she has had in other school systems and her ability so far to speak about a very positive future for Plattsburgh High School and a vision for high standards."

HURLOCK
Hurlock earned an master's degree in education leadership from the University of Northern Florida and a bachelor's in secondary education, social studies and history from SUNY Oswego.

Besides his position at Plattsburgh High School, he is K-12 Summer School principal for Plattsburgh City School District.

Before coming to Plattsburgh, he worked with Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES and in Green Cover Springs District in Florida for 18 years as an alternative-education teacher, department head and teacher. He has 21 years of experience in education.

OLDENBURG
Oldenburg is a graduate of the Western NY Professional Leadership and Superintendent Development Program. She earned a master's degree in education administration from Canisius College and a bachelor's in English from Geneseo College.

She has been dean of academics at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School.

Before that, she was high-school principal for eight years at Westfield Academy and Central School District. She has also been a high-school assistant principal, a high-school English teacher and a grade-5 teacher.

Oldenburg has 36 years of experience in education.

INTERVIEWS
"Before the forum, all candidates are going to be interviewed by the Student Council, and they will also be available for teachers at the High School," Short said.

At the forum, finalists will present their background, discuss their vision for the High School and respond to questions.

They will be interviewed by the School Board after the forum.

The Steering Committee and administration are pursuing background checks and have completed an analysis of the finalists' match with the ideal profile.

"My plan is to have a recommendation for the School Board for the regular board meeting on Nov. 12," Short said.

E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com