Byram Hills board accepts superintendent’s retirement effective July 4 with plan to rehire amid new state waiver

The Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education on June 26 accepted Superintendent Jen’s retirement effective July 4 and moved to rehire her shortly thereafter, citing a recently enacted New York State budget provision that temporarily waives post-retirement earnings caps for public-school retirees.

Board member Scott Levy, speaking during the public portion of the meeting’s contract-item discussion, described the situation as “unique” and said the board sought transparency while following legal counsel. “I believe that Jen is the best person to lead Byram Hills,” Levy said, arguing that rehiring her would preserve leadership continuity and that the district could save on employer retirement and duplicate health-care costs if she retires and is rehired under the waiver.

The board’s action grew out of a change in state law included in the recent New York State budget that, according to Levy’s remarks, provides a two-year waiver allowing retirees from public-school service to return to work in-state without the previous earnings cap. The board also consulted district legal counsel, Levy said, and concluded rehiring would be permissible under the new provision.

Board discussion included both support and opposition. Board member Laurie said the superintendent “has done an excellent job,” but said she intended to vote no, adding that a rehiring under the waiver “is at odds with the spirit of the legislation.” The transcript does not record the full vote tally.

Superintendent Jen, who spoke briefly after the vote, thanked the board. She said she has worked in Byram Hills since age 21 and described her intent to remain in the district: “This is an absolutely incredible place and it is my intention to stay here for as long as I am able,” she said.

The meeting record indicates the board went into executive session earlier in the morning to discuss a contract matter involving an individual employee, and later voted to revise the published agenda to remove one consent item and make it a standalone item before taking up the superintendent matter.

The board discussed near-term coverage while the retire-and-rehire process occurs. Meeting remarks named a Dr. Koltenecher (name recorded inconsistently in the transcript) as acting superintendent during the interim weekend; meeting statements about the exact interim dates were inconsistent in the transcript. The board indicated an intent for an acting superintendent to cover district operations during the short interim and to reinstall the superintendent immediately after.

The transcript does not provide a formal roll-call vote or itemized yes/no tallies for the motion to accept the retirement and rehire; the meeting record shows the motion was made, seconded, and Chair called for “all those in favor” and “all those opposed.” The board also earlier voted to remove a consent item (6.1) from consent and move it to a standalone agenda position (noted in the record as moved to item 9).