K-L Superintendent Makes Sudden Departure

Katonah-Lewisboro Superintendent Paul Kreutzer is leaving his position effective immediately, the school district announced Tuesday night.

The sudden resignation comes after the school board approved the closure of Lewisboro Elementary School for later this year. The closure was approved 5-2 on Thursday night and came following calls from LES parents to wait. 

"The Board of Education and Superintendent have irreconcilable differences with regard to the vision for and day-to-day leadership of the school district," school board President Charles Day said in a press release. "We thank Paul for his contributions over the past two-and-a-half years, and wish him well in his future endeavors."

The announcement did not provide further details about what caused Kreutzer's departure.

Details of severance were given in the statement.

"Because the Board is ending its employment with the Superintendent effective immediately, the Board will pay Dr. Kreutzer $90,000 as a buyout of the existing portion of his contract in order to avoid litigation."

Assistant Superintendent for Business Michael Jumper will serve as acting superintendent, according to the press release, which states that he did so before in 2011. Jumper assumed the role previously due to the departure of Robert Roelle from the post, Patch reported then.

Kreutzer's resignation was accepted unanimously by the school board at Jan. 28 meeting, according to a video of the action. The area where Kreutzer sat during previous board meetings is shown in the video to be empty.

Search consultants for recruitment of a new superintendent will be interviewed by the board, according to the district's announcement.

Kreutzer has been the subject of controversies, according to previous Patch reports. 

When the school board hired Kreutzer in 2011 it did so at a meeting that included teachers' union members from several school districts and with a packed crowd, Patch reported at the time. The 2011 Patch story notes there was controversy over hiring Kreutzer because of his support as a Wisconsin superintendent for a collective bargaining measure there that came from Gov. Scott Walker.

Further controversy came in December 2012 when a group of teachers publicly blasted Kreutzer at a school board meeting, Patch reported. The group came forward with several allegations against Kreutzer, raising claims that he bullied people and engaged in sexual harassment, Patch reported at the time.