Letters

I was very pleased to read Karl Grossman’s recent column regarding Eastern Suffolk BOCES and his attention to the career and contribution by Dr. Julie Davis Lutz, who recently retired as chief operating officer [“Why It Matters,” Suffolk Closeup, Opinion, August 25].

As a long-term board member and trustee of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, I couldn’t be happier to have coverage of our programs and the breadth of offerings and advocacy we provide to our component districts.

We will continue to serve the region under new leadership provided by Ryan Ruf, along with David Wicks, who, as district superintendent, also represents the commissioner of education.

A nice aside is that Ryan Ruf began his career in Sag Harbor as the business official while I was serving on the Sag Harbor Board of Education. He moved to a larger district closer to home and then came to BOCES as our assistant superintendent for business seven years ago. With Julie’s retirement and our policy of grooming from within, Ryan was the perfect choice to become COO.

We are truly an agency that transforms lives while focusing on equity and inclusivity. I’m grateful to Karl for his thorough and knowledgeable article, and to The Express News Group for your education coverage.

Anne Mackesey

Board Member and Trustee

Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services