Home Schools Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District Mattituck-Cutchogue BOE fails to elect a president, welcomes new superintendent, principal

Mattituck-Cutchogue BOE fails to elect a president, welcomes new superintendent, principal

The Mattituck-Cutchogue board of education failed to elect a president at its organizational meeting on Thursday but did welcome a new superintendent and elementary school principal.

At the meeting, board member Laura Jens-Smith said she objected because board member Sarah Hassildine was participating via Skype, from her location in Rochester, and felt the public was not given adequate notice under the open meetings law, to attend.

The board, divided in their vote, decided to wait until the next meeting to elect a president.

Board member Charlie Anderson declined a nomination for president but was appointed vice president.

After the meeting, current BOE president Gerard Diffley  said the whole matter involved a “technicality raised by Ms. Jens-Smith”, because Hassildine’s location was not listed in the public notice. “I think, from a practical standpoint, it was impractical to do so, because she was in Rochester. I don’t think any member of the public would drive to Rochester, where she is at a private residence, to attend the meeting.” 

Diffley, who said he has told other members of the board that he would assume the BOE presidency if elected, refused further comment on the matter. “‘I’d rather take the high road here and be the bigger person.”

In other news, the board welcomed new superintendent, Dr. Anne Smith, who was appointed at a special meeting recently; she will begin her new duties on Aug. 1. The board also  introduced Katheen Devine, who will serve as the new principal of Cutchogue East Elementary School.

Dr. Smith said a heartfelt farewell to retiring Superintendent James McKenna, handing him a small Chinese food box with a pin inside, as is tradition. McKenna also received gifts of a painting and puzzles, one of his favorite hobbies.

“Thank you for your years of service, and your sense of humor,” Smith said.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be able to be here in this community, with these students and families,” McKenna said. “I wish them all well.”

He then told a story about the shells on the beach. “Everyone wants the beautiful ones, and some shells are cracked or discolored, but have beautiful colors, if you look closely. I look at the shells on the beach as students of this district, or any district — there are the shells everyone wants, but if you really look at the others, they’re beautiful. That’s what the focus of the district must be about. It’s not about me or any administrator, it’s about the kids.”

A letter to the public on the district’s website Friday said that Dr. Smith has served as the elementary principal since being hired in 1996. Several years ago she was appointed as assistant superintendent while still serving as elementary school principal. Dr. Smith received her advanced degree in educational administration from New York University and holds a doctorate degree in education from St. John’s University. Dr. Smith received an award for outstanding leadership from St. John’s University, and has worked as an associate professor for the Graduate School of Education at Long Island University and the Graduate and Doctoral programs at St. John?s University.

Dr. Smith has lived for the past 27 years in Mattituck with her husband Ron and their three children.

Devine, meanwhile, began teaching i2005 when hired to teach elementary school in the Connetquot School District. There she designed and taught in the enrichment program for the elementary schools. Subsequently she coordinated and provided staff development for elementary teachers in seven elementary schools. She was a fellow at Communities for Learning and directed work in the district related to strategic planning and supporting teacher and program development. During that time she completed her administrative degree and was then hired in 2011 as the assistant principal and coordinator for universal p-kindergarten in the Bay Shore school district, where she supported the implementation of Common Core standards, teacher evaluation, data analysis, and grants. She is currently completing her dissertation work at St. John’s University and is studying the foundational work of Pre-K and Common Core standards implementation.

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