UPDATE: Farina Will Receive Nearly $300,000 After Resigning From Superintendent Position

Dr. Farina will receive a nearly $300,000 settlement after resigning from his position as superintendent, as per his agreement with the district.

According to the agreement, obtained by The Press on Tuesday, Dr. Farina will receive one year's salary, which was $234,000, and he will also be paid for each unused vacation and sick day at the rate of $1,170 each. He had eight unused vacation days and 47 unused sick days, totaling $64,350.

In total, Dr. Farina will receive $298,350 within 30 days of resigning from his post.

Both Dr. Farina and Ms. McCallion signed the five-page agreement on Friday, the day the School Board accepted his resignation.

The Southampton School Board accepted Dr. Farina's resignation at a 4-minute-long special public meeting Friday at 5 p.m. He was not present.

Reading from a prepared statement, Ms. McCallion said the results of an investigation of the superintendent for a number of allegations was the reason for the resignation.

“Based on the findings of this investigation … the Board of Education and Dr. Farina have agreed to mutually terminate their relationship, she read. She said that because the findings of the investigaton were confidential and involved personnel, it “prohibits the parties from commenting any further."

“Since we are not able to comment, we will not have public input at this meeting," she added.

The board also appointed Dr. Dyno as interim superintendent. Each action received unanimous approval from all present board members, although Trustees Christina Strassfield and Jake Wilson were absent.

The full statement, which was posted on the district's website, reads as follows:

"As we previously communicated to the community, on February 11, 2016, the Board of Education approved a resolution to hire outside counsel tasked with examining allegations brought to our attention with regard to our superintendent of schools. Based on the findings of this investigation, which remain confidential and not subject to public disclosure, the Board of Education and Dr. Farina have agreed to mutually terminate their relationship in the best interest of the school district. The agreement to accept Dr. Farina’s resignation prohibits the parties from commenting any further.

We recognize that some in our community and members of the media will have questions about Dr. Farina’s departure, but we can't offer comment on personnel matters and we wish to respect the right to privacy for all involved.

Simultaneous to accepting Dr. Farina’s resignation, the Board of Education appointed longtime district administrator Dr. Nicholas Dyno, our current assistant superintendent for instruction, as interim superintendent of schools.

We want to thank our community for their patience and ongoing support."

Southampton School Board President Heather McCallion declined to specify reasons for Dr. Farina's resignation, saying in a text message that the board could not comment on personnel matters, but that a statement would be made after action is taken at the meeting.

Deirdre Gilligan, vice president of Syntax Communication Group, a public relations company in Bohemia that works for the district, said Friday that the school district could not provide any comments until the resignation was accepted.

Dr. Farina's attorney, Steve Politi of the Central Islip-based Steven Politi Law Office, did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

The Southampton School Board will hold a special meeting Friday evening to accept Dr. Farina's resignation.

According to a notice sent out by District Clerk Mary Pontieri, the board will accept Dr. Farina's resignation and appoint Dr. Nicholas Dyno, assistant superintendent for instruction, as interim superintendent, effective immediately.

The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. at the Southampton Intermediate School library.

Southampton Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Farina has been absent from work all week. The absences follow a last-minute Board of Education executive session that took place last Saturday morning, at which personnel was discussed.

Amy Pierson, the district's Community Relations Specialist, confirmed on Thursday that Dr. Farina was out sick Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

The Board of Education held a special executive session on Saturday morning, April 9, to discuss personnel, although President Heather McCallion said earlier this week that no action was taken. The Press was notified of the meeting Friday morning, April 8.

On Wednesday, Ms. McCallion said the board had "no comment at this time" regarding Dr. Farina's status as superintendent. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment again Thursday.

Dr. Farina did not return a phone call or text message seeking comment on Thursday.

Deirdre Gilligan, vice president of Syntax Communication Group, a public relations company in Bohemia that works for the district, did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

The school district announced last month that it hired an outside attorney to investigate allegations made against Dr. Farina, although the school board would not disclose what the allegations were.

After the district's announcement, the New York Post published a story on its website citing anonymous sources that said the allegations included financial misconduct and favoritism, along with an explicit photo "leaked by a betrayed girlfriend” that was “making the rounds on campus.”

Dr. Farina, via his attorney, Steve Politi of the Central Islip-based Steven Politi Law Office, denied all allegations that were made regarding the basis of the investigation. Mr. Politi did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Thursday.

“Dr. Farina and I find this situation, started by a series of false allegations, very concerning,” Mr. Politi had said in a statement. “We are also displeased that certain press agencies and social media outlets would print a story based on rumors and unsubstantiated claims by an ex-girlfriend. We have denied all rumors and allegations in the past and will once again deny that any of the allegations have any truth to them whatsoever.”

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