GUILDERLAND — The untimely death of Demian Singleton is leading the Guilderland school district to consider not one but two replacements for his work.

Singleton died on Oct. 18 of pancreatic cancer. He was 52.

“We lost a dear friend and colleague,” said Superintendent Marie Wiles at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

For a dozen years, Singleton, originally a Guilderland science teacher, had been the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

“Under his title … Demian was actually the leader of all of our technology in the district,” said Wiles.

Technology, she said, touches every part of the district’s operation.

“It’s at the core of our operation in terms of teaching and learning, and has become even more so since the pandemic,” she said. “But it also touches our heat, our phone system, our fire-alarm system, our transportation system. We can’t take attendance without technology.”

Wiles also noted that the current capital project as well as the one voters just approved both have large components dealing with technology.

The other part of Singleton’s job is also essential, she said.

“We absolutely need an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to make sure that we stay on the cutting edge of  … what is our mission here.”

She proposed a director-of-technology leadership position to oversee “not only the instructional side of the house but also the operational side of the house.”

Wiles noted that the new technology position would have financial implications and said the timing for considering it is good because the district is just about to start its process for building the 2022-23 school budget.

“He grew with it and took it over,” said board Vice President Gloria Towle-Hilt of Singleton’s oversight of technology. “It’s definitely become a position of its own.”

She asked if other districts had similar posts.

Wiles responded that Guilderland had been an outlier; all of the other Suburban Council schools have technology directors, she said.

Guilderland this school year added another districtwide administrative post, the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. History teacher Matthew Pinchinat was appointed this fall to fill that post.

Board President Seema Rivera said she supported having the two posts and asked for a written description of the new jobs as well as an organizational chart on “who falls under it.”

“We’re happy to put that together,” said Wiles.

The board appointed Lynne Wells to serve as interim assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, effective Nov. 1.

Other business

In other business at its Nov. 9 meeting, the school board:

— Heard from a parent with a diabetic son, who praised the district for “excellent care,” ask that district policy on medications conform with state law. Wiles said the district’s medical director and lawyer would be consulted on the matter;

— Heard Wiles offer “heartfelt thanks” to the district’s custodians and maintenance staff, food service staff, aids and monitors, nurses, teaching assistants, clerical staff, and bus drivers. Nov. 16 is School-Related Professionals’ Day. “Simply put, we would not be able to accomplish the many tasks that need to get done without our school-related professionals,” said Wiles;

— Reviewed updated policies. Barbara Fraterrigo, who chairs the policy committee, noted conduct rules for the public were added and that speakers during the public-comment session can’t cede their unused three minutes to someone else — as happened when an angry anti-mask crowd addressed the board.

The school board will vote on the new and updated policies at its next meeting;

— Approved the formation of a new high school club, March for Our Lives GHS, which will “advocate for sensible gun violence prevention policies”;

— Appointed Pinchinat as an ex officio member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee along with appointing school board member Kimberly Blasiak. Rivera noted anyone could volunteer to work on subcommittees;

— Heard a suggestion from board member Nathan Sabourin that, when the district seeks bidders on its recently approved capital project, the contractors and vendors’ own DEI goals be considered — “that they are in line with our own goals,” he said.

“Are you talking about quotas?” asked Fraterrigo.

“No …,” responded Sabourin. “What they are doing internally to support DEI.” Rivera, Blasiak, and Blanca Gonzalez-Parker all expressed support for the recommendation.