Blind Brook Superintendent Steps Down After Safety Scandal

RYE BROOK, NY — Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School officials announced today that the board of education has accepted the resignation of its superintendent following a series of missteps that saw the state order an elementary school closed over safety violations.

Superintendent Patrick Brimstein was placed on paid leave soon after state regulators ordered Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street Elementary School closed due to safety concerns, including non-working fire alarms and sprinkler systems. Assistant Superintendent Colin Byrne was named interim superintendent in Brimstein's absence; he will now keep the job until at least October 26.

In a statement from the board of education dated Oct 6, school officials confirmed that Brimstein's immediate resignation was accepted at a meeting on Wednesday morning. Brimstein cited "personal reasons" in his request to resign, effective October 5.

As acting superintendent, Byrne oversaw the reopening of Ridge Street Elementary School under a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) issued last week following an inspection of the school. Students were able to return to classrooms on Oct. 5.

SEE ALSO:

• Blind Brook Families Look For Answers At School Town Hall
• Blind Brook School To Reopen Next Week Pending State Approval

In a town hall meeting in September, school board members apologized for a "breakdown in communication." The district blamed the safety issues that caused the New York State Department of Education to shutter the school largely on ongoing construction projects at the facility.

"The district has maintained a laser-like focus on a successful return to in-person instruction as quickly as possible," school officials said in a statement announcing the return of pupils to the previously closed school. "We have been pursuing a thorough review and adherence to all NYSED requirements, keeping the health and safety of our students at the fore as we work to bring this process to fruition.