The district welcomes Diane Castonguay as its new assistant superintendent for finance and operations, replacing Interim Assistant Superintendent Sydney Freifelder, effective July 1.

Ms. Castonguay joins Amityville with seven years of educational business experience and a rich background as a CPA in the private sector. Most recently, she was the assistant business administrator and district treasurer in the Jericho School District, where she helped oversee a $120 million budget with nearly 3,000 pupils. Her duties included working on year-end audits as well as control audits to assure all accounting processes are correct, managing the district’s change in financial software, tax levy calculations, budget preparation and a host of other financial responsibilities.

Prior to her tenure at Jericho, she served as the district treasurer of the West Hempstead School District, where she helped manage a $54 million budget with nearly 2,200 students. Her experience as a CPA helped her effectively prepare financial statements, track expenditures and revenue, and monitor debt services, including West Hempstead’s Energy Performance Contracts.

Ms. Castonguay worked for more than 15 years for private enterprises such as Ernst & Young, the News Corporation and Canon. She is a member of both the New York State Society of CPAs (on the Public Schools Committee) and the American Institute of CPAs. She holds a master’s degree in professional studies from Stony Brook University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairfield University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Castonguay to our administrative team,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly. “Her wealth of experience will be a positive asset to the district and we look forward to the contributions she will make here.”