Superintendent Maureen Bright and the Hicksville School District are parting ways, a year earlier than originally planned.
At a Board of Education meeting May 20, Bright announced that she would not be renewing her contract when it expired at the end of the 2014-15 school year. However, a notice posted last week on the Hicksville School District website stated that she is leaving her position July 31, 2014.
The statement read: “Due to issues which have arisen between the parties, it has been mutually agreed that the Superintendent’s relationship with the District end effective July 31, 2014. The Board of Education, the District and Ms. Bright acknowledge that it is in their mutual best interest to resolve the issues between them in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement entered into between the parties.”
Bright has worked in the Hicksville School District for 22 years; 12 of them as superintendent.
School board president Phil Heckler said he couldn’t comment on Bright leaving as it was a personnel issue, but said that the district is actively seeking a replacement.
Heckler says he expects the board will appoint an acting superintendent from within the district this week, and that they will then begin to look for an interim superintendent.
“The interim would typically be a former or retired superintendent from Long Island or Nassau County” says Heckler.
Heckler says the board hopes to begin interviewing for the interim position over the next two weeks.
The board has also hired a firm called School Leadership, who will help the district find a permanent replacement. The board has their first meeting with the firm to establish goals, dates and logistics on Wednesday, July 30. Heckler says he expects to have a permanent superintendent in place sometime next year.
