The Daily Freeman is reporting school officials in both the Red Hook and Rhinebeck school districts have announced the appointment of new district superintendents. In Rhinebeck, the board has chosen Albert Cousins, a Long Island high school principal, to fill the district's top spot, inking a three-year contract providing an annual salary of $210,000. The agreement was approved during a recent Board of Education meeting. Cousins succeeds retiring Superintendent Joseph Phelan. “We had three great finalists, and, with Mr. Cousins, his qualities seem to be the best fit for Rhinebeck,” board President Diane Lyons said. “His vision of education matched up with what our community told us they were looking for.” During the 2018-19 school year, the Rhinebeck district had an enrollment of 945 students in grades K-12. The Red Hook school board has hired Janet Warden as that district's new superintendent. A three-year contract, paying her an annual salary of $207,000, was approved during a public meeting last week. Warden is an Ulster Park resident. She has served for the past five years as an assistant superintendent for personnel and instruction for the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County. Warden will succeed Paul Finch, who chose not to renew his contract. She is scheduled to start work on July 1. The Red Hook district had an enrollment of 1,851 students during the 2018-19 school year. Read both stories in the Daily Freeman.