BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Board of Education has chosen Joseph Dragone as the new superintendent of schools.

Dragone is currently an assistant superintendent of schools for the Albany City School District. He’s expected to be appointed to the Ballston Spa post next week and to take office July 1.

Board of Education President Kathleen Jarvis said Dragone’s appointment was a unanimous decision by the school board.

“Dr. Dragone is the educational leader that will continue the district’s current initiatives and address student achievement,” she said. “He comes to the district with 15 years’ experience as an educator in public schools throughout the Capital Region. His career path includes classroom teaching, curriculum coordination, building leadership and his current responsibilities for secondary education.”

Dragone lives in Clifton Park.

He will replace Ray Colucciello who has been interim superintendent for three years.

The school board has been looking for a permanent superintendent off and on since August 2005. That’s when former Superintendent John Gratto left after the school board refused to renew his contract.

The Ballston Spa job was originally expected to last a year or less, but after an exhaustive search, the board said it had failed to find a compatible candidate for the district and decided to hold onto Colucciello in late 2006 when they temporarily gave up the search. His contract called for him to be paid $150,000 a year plus a compensation package.

Dragone’s salary will be $170,000 a year.

In March, Dragone, 39, met with faculty, staff, student organizations and administrators during a screening of finalist candidates.

He said he has been assistant superintendent for secondary instruction in the Albany school district for three years and the Ballston Spa job will be his first as the head of administration.

He was one of two finalists; the other was an administrator from Elmira.