Oceanside superintendent announces interim high‑school leaders, universal pre‑K seats for 306 families and 32 retirements
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Summary
Superintendent announced a leadership shuffle at Castleton High School, a retirement incentive with 32 staff taking retirement, and said state budget proposals will allow 306 families to be offered UPK seats; the board approved the related personnel recommendations at the meeting.
The Oceanside Union Free School District superintendent announced leadership changes, a broad retirement incentive and an expansion of universal pre‑kindergarten seats at the board meeting on Feb. 11.
Superintendent (identified in the transcript as doctor Harrington/Barrington) told the board that Castleton High School principal Frankie Simmons is leaving for a leadership role at the Department of Education; associate principal Joelle Hennessy will assume the role as interim principal through June. The superintendent also said Eddie Reisner, a middle‑school social studies teacher and basketball coach, will step into an interim role at the high school through June while the district conducts a full search.
On retirements, the superintendent said the board would approve ‘‘the resignation for the purpose of retiring for 32 of our amazing staff members’’ after the district’s retirement‑incentive program exceeded its goal. The superintendent said the district is reaching out to retirees to offer higher substitute pay to retain institutional knowledge.
On early‑childhood programs, the superintendent said the governor’s proposed budget increases UPK funding and that the district expects to offer seats to the families who applied. ‘‘Every single person which right now equals 306 families who have expressed an interest in attending our UPK will be able to achieve a seat,’’ the superintendent said in the meeting.
The superintendent also described long‑term enrollment monitoring efforts, noting the district commissioned a formal enrollment study in 2018 that was updated in 2023. He said the district continues to project disparities across its six elementary schools and recommended creating an optional zone beginning with students entering first grade in the 2027–28 school year to provide flexibility and reduce building imbalances. The superintendent said families would not be required to move and that a detailed FAQ and maps would be posted online and shared through principals and PTA presidents.
The board voted that evening on personnel recommendations that the transcript records as including a named hire listed as "Michelle Veil” in the personnel addendum; the superintendent had earlier announced the board would appoint a Michelle to a human‑resources leadership role to begin transition on May 1. The transcript contains two variant forms of the name (Michelle Via; Michelle Veil). The board approved the personnel recommendations by voice vote.
The superintendent closed by praising student athletic and arts achievements and noting calendar changes after a recent snow day; he said the district will use a previously scheduled day and that the Friday before Memorial Day will be a regular school day this year.
What happens next: the district will post the optional‑zoning FAQ and maps on its website and the board’s personnel approvals take effect per the district’s usual hiring timelines.
