After six years as Assistant Superintendent for Business, Kathleen Ryan has resigned effective July 31. Ryan joined the District in 2007 and immediately imposed a more rigorous approach to budget numbers. 

 

 By Sarah Varney

 

After six years as Assistant Superintendent for Business, Kathleen Ryan has resigned effective July 31. Ryan joined the District in 2007 and immediately imposed a more rigorous approach to budget numbers. According to a statement released by the Rye City School District, Ryan is leaving to focus on personal and professional interests and to spend part of the year in Florida.

 

“It has been a privilege to work with all of my colleagues here in Rye,” Ryan said in a prepared statement.

 

Ryan’s tenure has made a real difference in the way the District conducts its business, said Bob Zahm, who worked closely with her during his time as a member of the Board of Education.

 

“When she came in, she faced a very different environment. Her predecessor had a very different point of view. In his view, if you approved a function then you no longer had any responsibility for how the money was spent,” said Zahm.

 

“Kathy came in and immediately started asking questions. She was very responsive and open to change,” added Zahm. He lauded Ryan further for shaping up audit systems that enabled accurate financial forecasts. Ryan has been in charge of managing contracts and has been particularly effective job at juggling details. “She has also done a great job of herding the cats when it comes to managing construction projects,” said Zahm.

 

In the press release, Rye School Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Kathleen. She has been a vital member of our Central Administration and an exceptional business official. Her expertise and outstanding contributions will be missed.”

 

“The professionalism that she brought us and the respect that she has engendered around the county and across the state will leave big shoes to fill,” said Board of Education President Laura Slack.

 

Ryan was criticized by some residents in January, after she was asked to explain the District residency policy. At a School Board meeting, Ryan disclosed that the District sometimes uses surveillance to investigate whether a student legally resides in it. School officials have declined to elaborate on the policy or on the process used to attempt to expel one high school student for non-residency, whose parents are divorced. School officials later reversed the proposed expulsion.