Cobleskill-Richmondville and Middleburgh schools are sharing a business administrator after both their business officials left last week.
The move came as both districts begin financial planning for 2012-13, when conditions are expected to be worse than this year.
The districts will share Terry Blanchfield, a retired superintendent and administrator. He'll work in each district two days per week.
Cobleskill-Richmondville and Middleburgh acted quickly, C-R Superintendent Lynn Macan told the school board Monday night, "because we had to have someone now."
Mr. Blanchfield's hiring came after both districts lost their business officials.
In Middleburgh, board members Monday accepted the resignation of Business Administrator Mark Wagner effective December 3. He had been at MCS about one year.
At Cobleskill-Richmondville, Business Administrator Johnnie Nemec submitted a letter of resignation effective November 23, and board members accepted it Monday night.
Like Mr. Wagner, Mr. Nemec had been with the district almost exactly one year.
In the wake of those changes, Ms. Macan and others met with BOCES officials.
"In broad terms, to attract quality people, the assessment was that the salary we offer was not high enough," Ms. Macan said.
Mr. Blanchfield will earn $500 per Day. Each district will receive state aid for the first $15,000 it pays Mr. Blanchfield.
The arrangement is a trial run, Ms. Macan said, and the districts will evaluate it in June.
"If it's a model that works, then two districts can share and offer more money," she said.
The pay is less than the two districts would have paid their officials. Districts have discussed sharing services as a way to save.
"We're excited," Ms. Macan said. "It may be the beginning of more sharing of business services, which seems to make sense."
Mr. Blanchfield started in Middleburgh on Monday and will be at C-R next Monday.
He retired in June as the business administrator for an Adirondack-centered BOCES. Previously, Mr. Blanchfield had been a superintendent, Ms. Macan said.