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Gary Alger has been filling in as Business Administrator for the Lansing School District. He started August 1, 2004 and his last day is Friday (9/30). "He has just been a wonderful addition to the staff and to the business office," said School Board President Bonita Lindberg at last Monday's board meeting.

Mr. Alger has actually held the post longer than  the last "permanent " business administrator, who stayed for only a year. He's been involved in construction projects including Phase I of the capital project that is currently being completed. This project included reconstruction of the High School and Middle School roofs, and the re-pointing of the bricks on the 1929 wing of the Middle School. He was involved in purchasing the restaurant property that cut a jog in the district campus.



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Gary Alger

He also dealt with the emergency boiler project. "That's gone very smoothly," he reports. "We have boilers up and running right now. One boiler is running. We could heat the building if we needed to. The other has passed the test." The boiler installation was completed ahead of schedule, despite a flood that destroyed some of the parts waiting to be installed. "They did a great job," he says. "Jim Slavetskas -- the guy's outstanding. The district has really benefited from his help."

Mr. Alger has also been involved in Phase II of the capital project. Two days before retiring he was making telephone calls to make sure that everything is moving forward as it should.

When asked what he has enjoyed most about working in the district he replied, "I've really enjoyed working with the staff. They're a very competent group in the business office. Even though they've had a lot of turnover in Lansing, business administrators and superintendents, the staff has remained steady. They've done their jobs very effectively. They're a good group."

"Of course I enjoy working with kids," he added. "I went to the Elementary School yesterday and seeing the little kids -- they're all waving at you. Nothing beats that." Mr. Alger taught in South Seneca for 22 years, mainly third grade, but also fifth, Middle School and high School. Then he migrated into administrative jobs. "I see myself as an educator," he says, "and that's how I approach the job." Ms. Lindberg agrees. "He comes with a wealth of knowledge and has an uncanny ability to translate it to people like me who don't understand finance easily. Gary has never looked cross eyed at me when I call and ask 'what is going on here?'"

"He has been instrumental in the contract negotiations we did this year," said Ms. Lindberg. He adds an amount of levity to it that keeps it on the straight and narrow. I, for one, will miss him."

When asked if retirement is going to stick this time Mr. Alger replied, "People are betting against me. Nobody believes me that I'll be staying out. I will definitely be staying out for, I would say, at least five or six months." He and his wife are leaving Monday for South Carolina to visit his grandson during his soccer tournament. There are trips planned to Myrtle Beach and Florida as well. After that, who knows?

Mr. Alger will be replaced by another Interim appointment until a new superintendent is hired and has a chance to hire a permanent replacement. Larry Driscoll will be starting on Monday and has already met with Mr. Alger to come up to speed on current projects.

Ms. Lindberg concluded, "I wish you the best of luck on the golf course of life that lays ahead of you, and thank you very much from Lansing Schools for your work this last year." The board and all present applauded.

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