The Board of Education approved the appointment of Michael Lynch Tuesday night as the district's new director of facilities and operations, six weeks after his predecessor resigned on charges that he stole from a former employer.

Lynch will begin working for the district on Oct. 3.

Lynch brings over 20 years of experience in school district building maintenance. He worked in the same capacity for White Plains Public Schools from 1992 to 2010, directing more than $200 million in capital construction and renovation projects.

During that time, Lynch established security systems, helped wire the district’s computer network, upgraded heating/ventilation/air conditioning units, and performed asbestos abatement, according to Superintendent Stephen Falcone.

“Mr. Lynch was responsible for all building operations, oversight of the custodial and maintenance staff, field and turf maintenance, and coordination of construction projects,” Falcone told the board. “Mr. Lynch was responsible for 1.3 million square feet of occupied school space and 166 acres of property in White Plains.”

Falcone said that Lynch instituted energy savings projects in White Plains and worked in a similar capacity for the Nyack, N.Y. Public School District from 1988 to 1992, Falcone said.

A graduate of Manhattan College with a degree in health education, Lynch is also a firefighter in South Salem, N.Y., where he previously served as fire chief. He has served as a member of the Katonah-Lewisboro, N.Y. Facilities Planning Committee, co-chairman of the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, and a Town Council representative.

Hans Otto, Lynch's predecessor, was placed on leave in June and resigned in August after being charged with stealing nearly $7,000 in equipment from New Canaan Public Schools, where he worked from 1999 to 2011.

Otto and began serving in Darien in April. He succeeded Paul Engemann, who died suddenly in November.