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Southampton board honors dozens of retirees — facilities staff tally more than 260 years — then recessed
Summary
The Southampton Union Free School District Board of Education acknowledged more than two dozen retirees across facilities, food service, athletics and teaching, noted long tenures (facilities staff together contributed 260+ years) and recessed the meeting at 8:23 p.m. by voice vote.
The Southampton Union Free School District Board of Education used Monday’s meeting to recognize dozens of retiring employees across multiple departments, highlighting lengthy service records, program leadership and nearly a million meals served by a single food‑service employee over her tenure.
Director Marcus De Sousa led recognition of eight facilities department retirees and said collectively they had “contributed more than 260 years of service to the Southampton School District,” naming Theodore (Teddy) Latchek and others and listing individual years of service.
Principal Derek Robinson and other administrators recognized school‑based staff retirees across counseling, music, special education, health services and athletics, citing long careers and community impact. The board and administrators named multiple employees and recounted career highlights and decades of service.
Reagan Kimble, director of food service, described program achievements — including Farm to School awards in 2008, 2019 and 2023, sustained local procurement targets, and grant work — while honoring Mary O'Connor for approximately 21 years at the intermediate school. Kimble provided meal statistics tied to O'Connor’s tenure: about 275,625 breakfasts and 698,250 lunches (nearly 974,000 total meals) served at that school during her years there.
Board members and administrators repeatedly emphasized retirees’ local ties and long tenures. Several retirees and colleagues offered short remarks about memories and the district’s evolving needs; presenters framed the recognitions as celebration of institutional knowledge and community contribution.
Before an informal reception and cake, the Board President asked for a motion to recess the meeting at 8:23 p.m.; Ruthie White Dunn moved (by nod), Monique Crocker seconded, the board took a voice vote and the motion carried.
The recognitions were ceremonial; no policy votes related to retiree benefits or replacements were recorded during the presentation.
