Blind Brook School Board Elects Officers, Says Goodbye to Eugene Wolotsky

On Wednesday night, Trustee Sheri Zarkower was sworn in to another term on the Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District Board of Education.

In May, Zarkower, the board's then-vice president, won re-election against Dick Hubert and Wendy Adler with a large majority of the vote. 

On Wednesday, the Board of Education also re-elected Board President Steven Kaplan to serve  for another year and elected Glen Schuster as vice president.

In nominating Schuster for the position, Kaplan said that although the two don't always see eye-to-eye, it was healthy to have a difference of opinion.

The Board of Education also attended to some routine administrative matters, such as approving people and firms that provide services during the school year. This included Jonathan Ross as district clerk, Susan Arakway as assistant district clerk, and NYBEST for student accident insurance. These approvals have to occur each school year and a detailed list will be available on the Blind Brook website.

Among the resolutions the board approved was the acceptance of donations to the Blind Brook Senior Award Fund. Crisfield Prime Meats, Blind Brook Federation of Teachers, and Whitsons Food Service Corporation each donated $50, Keane & Beane P.C. donated $250, and Rye Bagels, also known as Lenny's Bagels, donated $100.

The board also accepted resignations, including Director of Pupil Services Eugene Wolotsky, who is retiring after 38 years of service in various school districts and at the state level. Board members and community members expressed their thanks to Wolotsky and said he had made a lasting imprint on the school and the students.

"I can attest to the fact you have made a big difference," Nancy Barr said. "We'll really miss you."

Wolotsky in turn thanked the school community for their support and for creating a team that focused on the students.

"I just hope I made things better," Wolotsky said of his 38-year career.

The board also approved a new varsity soccer girls coach, Michael Martino, but several board members voiced concerns about Martino's possible conflict of interest with coaching the same students on both the high school team and a private team. Barr and Engle said that while ultimately their questions about the conflict of interest were answered, the board and school should be careful when dealing with similar types of situations. Board President Kaplan ultimately voted against the appointment.

The next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 13.