Irvington

At its October 6 meeting, the Irvington Board of Education voted to extend Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Jim Reese’s employment in the district until June 30, 2011.

Reese, who was planning to retire at the end of the current school year, currently earns a base salary of $219.569, plus a merit award of $6,878 and a longevity payment of $5,475. Under the one-year contract approved by a 4-1 vote (Trustee Robyne Camp voted no), Reese will receive a salary of $226,447, plus the longevity increment of $5,475.

When he retires, Reese will receive a resignation benefit of $57,980. His retirement package also includes free lifetime medical insurance.

Sleepy Hollow

Eleven students from Sleepy Hollow High School were selected as members of the All-State music ensemble for the 2009-10 school year.

Chosen for band were Melanie Gold, Meg Lindon, Eric Mauhs, Klya Moscovich and Victoria Nadile. Selected from chorus were Hannah Becker, Robert Dondiego, Andrew Eagan, Ben Slaw and Katy Wood. Representing orchestra was Hwa-Sueng Erstling.

Meanwhile, Melanie Ferreira and Adam Fry were among 34,000 seniors nationwide to be named Commended Students in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Pocantico Hills

On November 4, Superintendent of Schools Freddie D. Smith resigned suddenly for personal reasons and was replaced on an interim basis by Assistant Superintendent Jay Scotto-Friedman.

Smith, who joined Pocantico Hills in July 2008 and was to be paid an annual salary of $204,000 for the 2009-10 school year, received a lump sum of $79,461 as he departed, as stipulated in an agreement between him and the district.

“The parties agree that Dr. Smith’s termination of his employment contract with the district was a personal decision and shall be treated as a confidential personnel matter not to be publicly commented on by either party,” the agreement stated.