Education

Berezny won’t seek new term on Riverhead Board of Education

Longtime Riverhead Board of Education member Kathy Berezny has decided not to seek re-election to another three-year term.

Ms. Berezny has been on the board for nine years and has served as its president and vice president over the years. Prior to that, she served in the Riverhead Parent-Teacher Organization for 13 years, and held a number of positions there.

“I made this decision with a heavy heart,” she said in an interview, adding that she cried when she recently told fellow board member Ann Cotten-DeGrasse of her plans.

“You know when it’s time to move on and do something else.”

Ms. Berezny, who is also a chaplain in the Riverhead Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, said the school board position was demanding a lot of her time.

She said she’ll still go to school board meetings, but not all of them, as she’s done for the past 22 years, first as a PTO member and then as a school board member.

Ms. Berezny’s seat on the board is one of three up for re-election May 17.

The terms of Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and Greg Meyer, who currently are the board’s president and vice president, also are up for re-election and both of them have indicated they will seek another term. Patty Sapienza-Brown has confirmed that she is running for the board and that she will be campaigning with Ms. Cotten-DeGrasse and Mr. Meyer.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. monday to submit a nominating petition with at least 73 valid signatures of district voters in order to get on the ballot.

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