Longtime BOE Member Tenders His Resignation

Babylon Board of Education trustee Thomas Melito is resigning from his seat effective April 18 due to new job responsibilities in his role of Deputy Suffolk County Executive for Performance Management.

In a letter submitted to the BOE and read at Monday night’s board work session meeting, Melito stated it had been a privilege to serve on the board for the past 14 years and he is grateful for the relationships built with fellow board members, teachers, administrators and the community.

His resignation opens a third board seat for election in May. Incumbents Roger Katz and Lisa McKeown have announced intentions to run again for three-year terms. Melito’s seat will be filled by the candidate attaining the third largest number of votes and elected to a one-year term.

Board President Dominic Bencivenga said it had been a pleasure to serve with him the last two years and that Melito cared about providing students with the best educational experience.

Katz called the resignation a “great loss,” and joked that the board should vote no to accept the resignation letter. In fact he and McKeown did vote no, creating a 3-2 vote outcome which did not provide the needed voting quorum to accept the resignation. McKeown then quickly changed her vote so it passed 4 to 1.