Southampton board approves tenure for multiple staff members

The Southampton Union Free School District Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve a slate of personnel items that included tenure for multiple staff members during its regular meeting at the Intermediate School Library.

The motion presented by the chair asked the board to approve personnel items and grant tenure to listed candidates; after a motion and voice vote the chair declared the motion carried. The motion covered personnel items and the granting of tenure to Christine Benedict, Bernardo ("Benny") Diaz, Alyssa Gary (librarian), Jennifer Gray, Thomas J. Little and other listed staff as presented on the meeting agenda.

Board members moved the personnel slate and, by voice vote, approved it. The record of the meeting shows members answering "Aye" and the chair declaring the motion carried; a full roll call was not read aloud in the transcript.

Those granted tenure were introduced earlier in the meeting by district administrators and principals who summarized each candidate’s work and accomplishments. The board’s action was procedural and formalized the tenure recommendations that had been presented to the board.

Several honorees spoke after being presented. Bernardo Diaz, a carpentry instructor discussed for his role in creating an in‑district carpentry program and apprenticeship partnerships, said of receiving tenure, "Getting tenure feels like a big old hug from all of you," and thanked family and colleagues for their support. Librarian Alyssa Gary, after being recommended for tenure, described the school library as "a place of imagination, exploration, risk taking, problem solving, researching, digital literacy, quiet reading, and a place where students can find their voices." Thomas Little, presented for tenure for his counseling and work‑based learning coordination, thanked the community and said he felt "truly home."

After the vote the board recessed for about 15–20 minutes to celebrate the newly tenured faculty.

Motion details: The chair asked that the board "move personnel items" as listed on the agenda, including the granting of tenure to the named individuals; a motion was made and the chair called for the vote. The meeting record does not show a formal roll‑call result in the transcript; the chair announced the motion carried.

The board is expected to resume regular business after the recess and to publish official minutes that will include the full personnel resolution language and, where recorded, a complete vote tally.