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PEEKSKILL, NY -- The city school district has hired a firm to oversee a search for a new principal for Peekskill High School after the sudden resignation by current principal Sheryl Lazarus.
Lazarus was hired for the 2010-11 school year under former superintendent Judith Johnson following a long search by the district.
The personnel change comes on the heels of a study conducted by a Joint Intervention Team (JIT) for the district that found organization and leadership to be lacking in the school.
Peekskill Superintendent of Schools James Willis confirmed that the district is looking for a new principal for the school.
"Ms. Lazarus is resigning and seeking work elsewhere," Willis said. "I've provided her with recommendations."
No reason for resignation was given by Lazarus, said Willis, who declined to comment further on possible reasons for her leaving.
The district has hired Capitol Area School Development Association (CASDA), the same firm that oversaw the school's JIT report, to conduct the search. The firm recently oversaw the search for a principal for the Newburgh school district, Willis said.
The district would also be doing a survey of high school teachers as part of the search process, he added.
In addition to the change in school leadership, the district has hired a human resources director after being without one for over a year. Mary Sculnick, who formerly worked in the East Ramapo and South Orangetown school districts, has 18 years of experience according to Willis, a former school human resources director himself.
"I've known her for many years and I think she's going to help this district get back on track," Willis said.
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