VOORHEESVILLE — After working for Voorheesville for almost six years, James Franchini will be stepping down from his position as the school district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operation to become superintendent at Averill Park.

His last day will be June 30.

The Averill Park School District has about 3,500 students and covers about 120 miles in the Rensselaer County towns of Berlin, Brunswick, East Greenbush, Nassau, North Greenbush, Poestenkill, Sand Lake, Schodack, and Stephentown.

Voorheesville, by comparison, is situated largely in New Scotland and has about 1,200 students.

Superintendent Brian Hunt says he will be discussing the process of filling Franchini’s position in January, and that a committee of staff, faculty, and community members will be formed to help choose the next assistant superintendent.

Both Hunt and Franchini said that they hope there will be some overlap in the appointment, so that Franchini can help his replacement. Franchini himself had Sarita Winchell, who had had a similar position to his, mentor him when he took on the position.

Franchini was appointed about a year-and-a-half ago, says Hunt, and was the middle school principal for the district for four years before that.

Franchini was also the assistant principal and principal for Averill Park’s middle school, and says he is excited to return to Averill Park as an administrator, but also will miss Voorheesville.

“I grew up out here,” he said. “It was humbling to come back here.”

Franchini said he was proud to have served Voorheesville during a transitional period, when much of the staff positions were being filled by new people. He also served during a time when the district was adding new faculty and updating facilities on campus.

“I was really proud to be part of that,” said Franchini.

“I feel he’s done an excellent job so far,” said Hunt.

Franchini said that, although Averill Park is a larger district than Voorheesville, it bears many similarities, primarily in the way that both have supportive communities of people willing to help the district.

“There are a lot of similarities in that regard,” he said.

Franchini said he will miss the parents and students he got to know as the middle school principal, but he still is looking forward for his next job.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m excited for the opportunity.”