William Floyd school board President Robert Vecchio announced tonight that he is stepping down as trustee and president of the district’s Board of Eduction.
Vecchio, whose resignation is effective Dec. 31, 2021, has accepted a position as the next executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. It’s a role in which he will continue his advocacy for William Floyd and more than 100 other member school districts, the district said in a statement.
“The Board of Education will announce next steps to fill the vacancy in the near future,” the statement read. “Thank you to Mr. Vecchio for his 18 years of dedicated service to William Floyd, and for his integrity and passion for our students and community. Please click below to his letter to the community.”
In a message to the community, Vecchio detailed the mixed emotions that come with his resignation and noted how during his 18-year tenure, the 9,000-student district has improved its graduation rate from 67% to 91% and implemented a technical education program, among other accomplishments.
“To the community, it has always been with gratitude and a deep appreciation that you have elected me six times to represent you on this board and to represent our community in Washington D.C., Albany, and elsewhere,” Vecchio said in his message. “This is one of the most special places to call home and I will always be Floyd Proud, and your support has always been appreciated.”
Below is Vecchio’s message to the community in its entirety.
President Vecchio’s Resignation Message
“To the William Floyd Family and Community:
It is with mixed emotions that I inform all of you that I will be resigning my position as a trustee and president of the William Floyd Board of Education effective December 31, 2021.
A truly unique opportunity has been presented to me to become the next executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. So, while I will be leaving the William Floyd Board of Education, I will now be representing William Floyd and more than 100 other school districts in advocating for educational policy both on a federal and state level while also being a resource and support for board trustees across Long Island. This new role requires me to resign my position on the Board of Education, which I have had the honor of being elected to with the confidence of residents over the past 18 years.
I have always been proud to represent the William Floyd community and fight for our kids whether it be the battle against unfunded mandates, the erosion of local control and decision-making, and the fight ensure our community and students get the funding that is deserved.
I’m so proud of all that the district has accomplished over the 18 years I have served; I am also privileged to have played a part in making it happen. We have increased our graduation rate from 67% to 91%. We have implemented a topnotch and first-class career and technical education program, which has been instrumental in getting more of our students than ever before career and college ready.
William Floyd has always had rock-solid music and arts programs, and our special education programs are student-centered and first rate. Our business academy has been cited numerous times as the best in the state, our Youth and Government program has had dynasty of domination for as long as I have been on the Board, and our mock trial teams continue to achieve great things. Our athletic teams are competitive and display sportsmanship in all they do.
Innovative thinking and a “failure is not an option” mindset helped create the Floyd Academy and William Floyd Learning Center, two programs that have been instrumental in ensuring no student falls “between the cracks.” Students enrolled in these programs are succeeding and doing so in their home district with their peers.
Our elementary schools are the foundations of the systematic success that our student achievement is built upon and play a vital role in getting to where we are now with a 91% graduation rate. Our two middle schools took on the challenge of increasing rigor and bringing in high school Regents courses to all of our students in the eighth grade and have changed the systems dramatically for sixth- through eighth-grade students so they are well prepared for high school.
None of this would have been possible without the entire team at William Floyd. The superintendents I have had the honor of serving with were always about our kids and community, and always raised the expectations for what our kids are able to achieve. Our team of administrators, building administrators, faculty, teaching assistants, paraprofessionals, nurses, custodial, building and grounds, security, secretarial, and a host of other support staff are second to none and their commitment to excellence is something that has served as an inspiration to me.
To all the people I have served with on the Board of Education throughout the years, most people will never know the commitment and the hard work that goes into serving, but we have been fortunate to always have a great board who truly put kids first. It has been an honor to serve with you and something I will miss tremendously.
To the community, it has always been with gratitude and a deep appreciation that you have elected me six times to represent you on this board and to represent our community in Washington D.C., Albany, and elsewhere. This is one of the most special places to call home and I will always be Floyd Proud, and your support has always been appreciated. There have been times people have agreed with me and sometimes they have not, but, I have always tried to treat everyone with respect, honesty and the dignity that a public servant should give to the people they represent. It has been an honor to serve and something I will always cherish. Thank you.
And last, but certainly not least, serving requires a shared sacrifice, and without the support and understanding of my family, I would not have been able to serve the way I have for the past 18 years. Many nights out at meetings, and weekends away requires patience and understanding. Hearing people criticize your loved one and not rising up to defend whether in person or on social media, is not always an easy thing; but they handled this “other job” of mine with class and dignity. I can’t thank my wife, my daughter and son-in-law, and my son and his fiancé, enough. I love you all dearly and thank you for allowing me to serve the community — sometimes at the expense of spending time with all of you.
Continue to stay Floyd Strong and Floyd Proud! The work will continue, there is much more to accomplish, and I look forward to seeing William Floyd continue to flourish. Onward and upward! Carpe Diem!
Sincerely,
Robert J. Vecchio
