POLAND — Two days after the Poland Local Schools Board of Education accepted the superintendent’s letter of resignation, an interim leader has been appointed.

Dr. Edwin Holland will serve as interim superintendent Nov. 1 through July 31, 2021. David Janofa, current superintendent, will stay on as a special assistant to Holland until Feb. 1.

Both motions were unanimously approved at a special meeting Wednesday.

The resolutions come after the board accepted Janofa’s letter of resignation with the intent of retirement on Monday. In his letter, he stated he would officially begin retirement Feb. 1, 2021.

Board member Larry Dinopoulos voted “no,” and community members and peers of Janofa took to the podium to praise Janofa for his accomplishments during his tenure, which began in 2013.

At the podium during public comment, Judy Nitolli, a parent of Poland students, asked that board members who did not want to renew Janofa’s contract to explain why. While giving her comments, Nitolli looked at board members Larry Warren and Annie Colucci, who said during Monday’s meeting they did not want to renew Janofa’s contract.

Board President Gregg Riddle began his response by saying the board does not have legal obligation to answer, as discussions between the board and Janofa over the last year-and-a-half were done in executive session.

“Mean-spirited” interpretations of the conversations made their way to the community, which has hurt communication, Riddle said.

Eddie Muransky, a community member, said that after watching Monday’s meeting online, he was “disappointed” as the meeting was emotional and tense at times. He said he is hopeful that the board and community can “start over,” and hopes there is an “open-mind” approach when it comes time to finding a permanent superintendent.

Muransky also expressed that as elected officials, he trusts the board will make the best decisions to lead the district.

At the beginning of the meeting, members of the Poland Township administration presented Janofa with a proclamation.

Trustees Eric Ungaro and Ed Kempers and school resource officer Steve Kent represented the township.

“We just wanted to make sure we came here on behalf of the trustees,” Ungaro said, recalling that relations between the school district and township weren’t as strong as they are now.

“Thank God the man had big shoulders,” Ungaro said, referring to the decisions Janofa has made, such as closing schools due to declining enrollment.