Phil Grome selected as new Assistant Superintendent for Administration

OCM BOCES Appoints Phil Grome as New Assistant Superintendent for Administration

July 10, 2020

     Phil Grome, a 27-year educational leader, has been selected to be the new assistant superintendent for administration at Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES, a position that makes him part of the organization’s senior leadership team.

     The OCM BOCES Board of Education voted unanimously for Grome’s appointment at its monthly meeting July 9. He begins his new position today, July 10.

     Grome’s tenure at OCM BOCES has focused on leading a wide variety of instructional programs for students in Career & Technical Education (CTE), New Vision, Career Development, and a division called Innovative Education, which includes several alternative programs and two project-based learning high schools in Onondaga and Cortland counties. It is a role that has made him intensely familiar with a large share of the programs, people, processes, and budgets at OCM BOCES.

     Grome also has business administration experience that goes back to his 17-year career in the Weedsport Central School District. In Weedsport, Grome worked as a social studies teacher and high school principal before taking on the district’s role as the top business administrator for five years.

     In his new role, Grome will oversee the OCM BOCES internal business office as well as shared services for school districts that include a Central Business Office, food services, health and safety assistance, Medicaid reporting, and more. Grome will also manage the OCM BOCES annual budget and be a key member of the senior leadership team that guides decisions for the overall organization. He is replacing Andrew DiBlasi, who is leaving OCM BOCES to pursue a new career opportunity. 

     It was Grome’s passion and familiarity with BOCES, combined with his background as a business official, that made him a great choice for the assistant superintendent position, said OCM BOCES Deputy Superintendent Colleen Viggiano.

     “Phil is extremely knowledgeable about OCM BOCES, he is passionate about our core purpose — educating students — and he has already built strong relationships with our districts, our business partners, our communities, our employees and our students,” Viggiano said.

     Grome first joined OCM BOCES in 2011 as principal of the hands-on CTE programs in Cortland. Three years later, he became director of CTE for the entire BOCES region. In 2018, his duties expanded to oversee Innovative Education.

     Central New York has always been home for Grome, who grew up in Camillus and attended West Genesee High School. His educational achievements went on to include an associate’s degree from Onondaga Community College in applied science; a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from SUNY Oswego; and a master’s degree and Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY Cortland.

     Outside of work, Grome says he is an avid sports fan, loves reading, and has recently pursued a new interest: refinishing furniture. He also loves to spend time with his wife of 28 years, Kristin, and his three daughters.

     He is looking forward to the new position.

     “The opportunity to collaborate with our component school districts in this new capacity — and to positively impact our shared services — is a very exciting prospect,” he said.