Another staffing change at New Suffolk as teacher assistant resigns
The New Suffolk School District is down another staff member.
Teacher assistant Karen Costello submitted her resignation earlier this month after accepting a position in another school district, principal Christopher Gallagher said at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
“She’s going to another position that will have improved career prospects for her,” he said.
Ms. Costello began working in New Suffolk as a part-time teacher assisting during the 2013-14 school year. The following year, she returned full time.
This is the second staffing change to occur within the district this year.
In April, the school board decided to eliminate veteran teacher Martha Kennelly’s position to help close a $160,000 budget gap. Ms. Kennelly is appealing that decision with the state commissioner of education.
Ms. Kennelly, who’s been an educator for over two decades, said Tuesday she’s not interested in applying for Ms. Costello’s position since it’s an assistant’s position.
The district is looking to fill the vacancy before the next school year begins in September.
“We have started the interviewing process for a teaching assistant and we have scheduled more interviews next week,” Dr. Gallagher said. “I anticipate that we will be successful in bringing a candidate for recommendation for appointment at the August meeting.”
The district is expected to have up to 18 students in grades K through 6 for 2015-16 and about nine students in grades 7 through12 at Southold High School.
