Sag Harbor Superintendent Takes Leave For 'Immediate Surgery'

SAG HARBOR, NY — Sag Harbor Superintendent of Schools Katy Graves will be taking an unanticipated leave of absence for "immediate surgery" at Memorial Sloan Kettering, she said in a letter to the Board of Education.

The BOE announced that Graves will be taking the leave of absence to attend to a personal medical issue starting on Friday, with additional required days off prior to the medical leave beginning the week of Monday, Nov. 18. During her absence, her responsibilities will be delegated to the appropriate central office administrators, the district said.

In anticipation of Graves' previously announced retirement scheduled for Jan. 6, 2020, the BOE said they have been "aggressively working" with a professional search firm to find the most highly-qualified candidate to serve the district as interim superintendent starting Jan. 6 through June 30, 2020. The board is now exploring the possibility of an earlier start date, if needed, district officials said.

"Mrs. Graves plans to send a personal letter to parents and the community to share her thoughts. We wish her the best and ask that the community respect her privacy during this time," the BOE said.

"I know I am leaving the district in the most capable hands and our Board of Education , administrators, teachers and staff will continue to do what is best for the children, fair for adults and what the community can sustain when I am not here," Graves said in her letter to the BOE. "If my doctors are able to release me to return prior to my January 6, 2020 retirement date I will be very happy to come back and work to support the leadership transition at our beautiful school district."

In May, Graves announced that she was set to retire in January.

"Since 2014, when Katy Graves became our superintendent, she has consistently based her leadership decisions on what is best for children, fair for adults and what the community can sustain," said BOE President Diana Kolhoff. "On behalf of the entire Sag Harbor Board of Education, we express our sincere gratitude to our superintendent of schools for her years of diligent service and unwavering dedication to our students, our staff and our entire community."

During her tenure as superintendent of schools, the district experienced successes, including the implementation of the district's bond project, which included numerous safety and security measures; updated playing fields at the elementary and middle/high schools; a renovated multipurpose court and a rebuild of the Pierson auditorium; the launch and expansion of many STEAM classes and clubs throughout the district, including computer science classes and K-12 robotics clubs; the successful passing of a bond and purchase of Stella Maris, with construction currently taking place to open the Sag Harbor Learning Center for the 2019-20 school year; the expansion of shared services with surrounding school districts, including partnerships with Wainscott and Sagaponack; and the increase in wellness initiatives throughout the district in partnership with various community organizations, the district said.

In May, Graves thanked the board of education, community and staff for their continued support during her service to the district. She added that her decision to retire would enable her to spend more time with her family.

"I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Board of Education and the community for allowing me to serve as your superintendent of schools. Together, along with our wonderful and dedicated staff, we have accomplished so many goals, and our children have benefited from our work as a team," Graves said.

"It has been a remarkable journey and an honor to work with a community that cares so deeply for children and their education," she added. "I am very proud of all we have accomplished for the schools and especially for the children of this beautiful community. While I am retiring to spend more time with my own family, I will remain a friend to all in Sag Harbor. This is a wonderful community in which to live and to educate children."