Sag Harbor Super and School Board Member Resign

Two resignations were handed in at Monday's Sag Harbor School Board meeting, the first of the 2012-13 school year.

John Gratto, who has been the superintendent for four years, announced his decision to resign and move on to a position at Virginia Tech, and school board member , who was , will step down. 

Wilcoxen could not be immediately reached for comment. He and fellow incumbent Gregg Schiavoni won re-election against challenger Thomas Gleeson in May.

When asked if the two resignations were related, Gratto said he didn't believe so, but that Wilcoxen was disappointed by the superintendent's decision to leave.

Gratto said the board will look to appoint someone to fill the vacancy on the board. Information will be posted on the district website. Those interested should write district clerk Mary Adamczyk by Aug. 6. The board's selection will serve until the May 2013 election, when the interim member can run for the position.

The resignations come on the heels of in May. She left to take another job in the private sector.

Gratto said that his decision was a difficult one to make because he has enjoyed his time in Sag Harbor. The decision also came as a surprise to many, he said, though it was one that made sense for his family. "My family is all moving south on me. I have a daughter getting married and moving to Jacksonville, my youngest daughter is going to play soccer at Georgia Southern, and my son going to Virgina Tech," he said.

He has been hired as a professor of educational leadership at Virgina Tech.

His last day in Sag Harbor will be Aug. 17. "The Board of Education will soon be looking for an interim Superintendent of Schools until a full search can be completed," he wrote in an email to faculty on Monday night.

Gratto, who has a doctorate in education, said he intends "to try to get everything done that can be done so that the school year starts smoothly."

While he has only been in Sag Harbor for four years, he has been in education for 34 years and spent 23 years as a superintendent. He has taught graduate students at the University at Albany and Stony Brook University.

In spite of some objections that an in-house administrator wasn't hired, the school board hired Gratto as former Superintendent Kathryn Holden retired. "I certainly enjoyed my time here despite the rocky start," Gratto said.

He said he was proud of his work in a school district. Among his accomplishments, he noted implementing the College Advancement Program that allows students to take college-credit bearing courses on the Pierson campus and a pre-kindergarten program. He was a major force behind the being accepted as an International Baccalaureate World Diploma school. He also helped, he said, facilitate the admission of tuition-paying students from neighboring districts and establishing reserve funds, while also improving the facilities.