Blind Brook-Rye (N.Y.) school superintendent Patrick Brimstein has resigned weeks after the district's elementary school was forced to shut down by the state.
The school board says Brimstein resigned for personal reasons, reports lohud.com news.
The resignation comes after the board placed Brimstein on paid leave last month without explanation.
Brimstein’s departure comes as students returned to in-person learning at the district's Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street Elementary School. The state shut down the school on Sept. 15 because of safety concerns in the building related to extensive construction. The campus did not have properly working fire alarms and sprinklers, according to the state.
The building issues stem from ongoing construction dating back to 2019. The board says it's already over budget and needs about $5 million more to complete the work. The school board says its priority is completing the construction in order to fully open up the school - hopefully by Thanksgiving, reports news12 Bronx.
State officials granted the district a temporary certificate of occupancy this week that enabled the Ridge Street school to reopen.
Brimstein was hired in July 2020 and received a three-year contract. His salary was $245,000.
Colin Byrne, the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, will serve as interim superintendent. Byrne has been with Blind Brook since 2003.
