Webutuck's high school principal resigns

WEBUTUCK — Drew Hopkins, the junior/senior high school principal in the Webutuck Central School District, has submitted his letter of resignation to the Board of Education, which in turn appointed an interim principal for the start of school this fall.

 Those who took a passing glance at the agenda posted online for the June 21 board meeting were in for a surprise when they arrived at the high school library that evening, as there was no mention of the resignation until a revised agenda was distributed at the meeting.

 That’s because the board received Hopkins’ letter of resignation earlier in the day, board President Dale Culver reported at the meeting.

Superintendent Lee Bordick said his replacement, John Oates, was at one point a candidate for interim superintendent over the past year at Webutuck (counting Bordick there have been three superintendents since Richard John’s departure last summer).

 Bordick said he and some of the board members were familiar with Oates’ work. He stressed that given Webutuck’s “history with administrative changes,â€� it was important that the board find a permanent replacement for Hopkins soon. He added that he expected Oates’ tenure at Webutuck to be a “short-term appointment.â€�

 According to the agenda, Hopkins’ last day will be Aug. 31, but Bordick said it’s likely that Oates will begin working before then. The board’s decision is contingent upon Oates receiving a waiver from the state’s education department allowing him to serve as interim principal without having to come out of retirement.

 Two other departures

Monday night

Monday’s meeting saw two other persons stepping down. Being the last meeting before the July 6 reorganizational meeting, it was Trustee Andy Jablonsky’s farewell meeting.

 â€œI’d like to thank Andy for his service over the years,â€� Culver said, adding that Jablonsky had always been available when the board needed him.

“It’s been a pleasure,� Jablonsky replied.

 Monday night was also the last board meeting for Bordick, whose term as interim superintendent will end with the appointment of Steven Schoonmaker as permanent superintendent at July’s reorganizational meeting.

“It’s been a challenge here at Webutuck, but it’s also been professionally rewarding,� Bordick said. “I think we’ve come a long way, and I appreciated working with all of you.�

 â€œI think we all owe you a round of applause,â€� Culver told Bordick. “You’ve modeled the behavior many others have talked about.â€�

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