Babylon Superintendent Resigns Post

Babylon School Superintendent Ellen Best-Laimit has resigned her position and will leave the district this August after five years in the role.

The resignation news was the first agenda item of last night’s second school budget hearing.

Best-Laimit said she began considering retirement earlier this year as she struggled to deal with her father’s illness. She thanked the board for all its support during that time and since the passing of her father two months ago. Her current contract expires as of August.

The North Babylon High School graduate was appointed to the superintendent role in 2006 following the retirement of William Bernhard. She had been serving as the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction prior to the appointment. She currently serves as the secretary for the Suffolk County School Superintendent Association.

The school board will now investigate potential approaches to hiring a new leader, board members said at the meeting. Potential options range from hiring outside consultants to using internal resources for the candidate search effort. Board members said community involvement would be part of the process.

In an interview with Patch last November Best–Laimit said the top challenge for school superintendents is that much of today’s education focus is based on 20th century needs and that change must be brought about to prepare students for the 21st century workplace. The district’s primary challenge is providing a strong educational program in light of increasing costs and demands on taxpayers, she told Patch.