Mattituck superintendent announces he’s retiring
Mattituck-Cutchogue School District Superintendent James McKenna has announced he’s retiring this summer after working in the district for 25 years.
At the conclusion of his monthly report during the school board’s regular meeting in the high school library, Mr. McKenna said he decided to retire in order to spend more time with his wife and family.
“I’d like to think I did the very best I could during the time that I was here at Mattituck,” said the superintendent, whose voice was hoarse and who fought back tears as he struggled to talk. “This is a great, great district. You should be proud of what you have here and I’m glad to have been a part of it.”
After school board president Jerry Diffley praised Mr. McKenna for his dedication and hard work, the audience of about 70 people gave him a standing ovation.
Although Mr. McKenna has already submitted his letter of intent to retire in July, the school board isn’t set to vote on it until its next meeting Dec. 12.
Mr. McKenna’s announcement comes less than a week after the Greenport and Southold school boards agreed to share a superintendent next school year. Under that agreement, Southold Superintendent David Gamberg will replace Greenport Superintendent Michael Comanda, who announced in August that he plans to also retire this summer, though he will remain in a part-time role as superintendent of the New Suffolk School District.
