MAHOPAC, N.Y.—Mahopac schools Superintendent Christine Tona announced her retirement effective Sept. 1 at the Board of Education's Aug. 5 meeting at Mahopac High School. Tona, who noted that her contract was extended in the spring of 2024, said she would be taking a leave of absence, effectively leaving her position on Thursday, Aug. 7.
After voting to accept Tona's retirement board appointed Frank Miele as acting superintendent by a vote of 5-3.
“I fully intended to continue through June of 2027—and perhaps beyond," Tona said. "But, as life sometimes reminds us, plans change.”
Tona called stepping down after 33 years in education—including three as Mahopac Central School District superintendent—"a truly bittersweet moment."
"I've had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated educators and staff members I have ever known," Tona said of her tenure at Mahopac. "They place the needs of our students at the center of every decision."
Tona praised district staff, saying she was especially proud of assistant superintendents Matthew Lawrence, Alyssa Murray, and Jen Pontillo.
"Their leadership, collaboration, and commitment have been second to none, and I am so grateful for the team environment that we created together," she said, adding her appreciation for support from the community.
“To the many staff members and community members who have supported me, especially over the past few months, thank you. Your emails, notes, and kind words meant more to me than you know.”
Tona listed the district's strategic plan, safety and security upgrades, expanded STEAM opportunities, new career pathways in business, health sciences, and education, enhanced social-emotional supports, and more as some of the district's important accomplishments during her tenure.
“To our students: Continue to work hard, be kind to each other, and—as our mission statement encourages—strive to become educated, upstanding citizens with practical life skills and readiness for the real world," she said. “Watching you grow in our classrooms, on our athletic fields, and through your extracurricular pursuits—there are so many opportunities, and you continue to seize them with purpose and pride.”
Tona concluded with a note of thanks and a message to students and staff.
“I encourage all of you to continue rising above challenges and keeping students at the forefront," she said. "Because they are, and always will be, the reason we are here.”
Tona received a standing ovation from members of the audience. School Board President Mike Mongon wished Tona "the very, very best."
"I think it's going to be a nice opportunity for retirement for sure," Mongon said. "Hope I get there one of these days."
The Mahopac School Board voted 5-3 to approve Frank Meile as interim superintendent, with Mongon, Lucy Massafra, Nicole Iacono, Christopher Harrigan, and Kyle Potter voting yes and Jennifer Travis, Ben DiLullo, and Lisa Carway voting no. Trustee Tanner McCracken was absent.
A community member (whose name was inaudible when she was introduced at the podium) questioned the process and the vote "blind and non-transparent."
"I implore the board to take the opportunity to explain what they just voted upon," she said.
The woman, who went on to say she was the parent of a special needs student, said her initial intent was to urge the board to pay more attention to students with special needs and to appoint a committee dedicated to those programs.
"But I'm just blown away by what's happening," she said, referring to Tona's retirement. "I heard rumors throughout the community but I didn’t know what was happening because there's been a lack of transparency as to the future of our district."
Noting that the board members championed transparency and fiscal responsibility, she called the events at the meeting "an example of blatant hypocrisy."
"It's not easy to find a superintendent that is accessible, that is willing to take the low pay in Putnam County, and to put in the work," she said. "Superintendent Tona has been accessible from Day 1."
She called for an explanation on why "the board was willing to buy out a contract" when it took two votes to pass the 2025-26 school budget and questioned the timing of making the change just before the new school year.
"There's no frank reasoning behind that," she said. "I think this is extremely irresponsible."
Parent Kristen Fleming expressed "deep concern and disappointment" with Tona's departure and called Tona the best superintendent the district had employed in years.
"From a fiscal standpoint, this is ridiculous," she added. "I understand the financial implications of the early release of a contract. You have to pay out the remainder of her contract, you have to pay a headhunter to find a new superintendent...and that is such a waste of our taxpayer money."
She called "the lack of transparency" troubling.
"What would warrant a decision like this?" she asked, adding that Tona "always acted in the best interest of our students and families."
Parent Jen Colomonico said Tona has been "disrespected and mistreated by members of this board and members of the community in ways that are unfounded and frankly outrageous."
Colomonico said the board's action "was not clearly explained, not transparently disclosed," and called it a disservice to the community. Speaking of her daughter, a rising freshman, Colomonico said: "You've all failed her today, because you've chosen to waste...our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to settle disputes that are...political in nature."
"I have yet to hear a legitimate justification for this action," Colomonico added. "To think any of you would utter the words 'fiscal responsibility' or that we've been wasteful with money is utter hypocrisy."
"Our children are the ones who are going to pay the price," she said.
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