Manetuck Principal To Retire

Mary Anderson, principal of , is retiring at the close of the current school year, bringing to an end a career in education that spanned more than 40 years.

“It is with great mixed feelings that I announce I am retiring June 30,” she said in a recorded phone message to parents. “I will miss the staff and supportive Manetuck families and most of all the children.”

Now in her 41^st year, Anderson’s career in education started as a classroom teacher and she spent 18 years at Westbrook Elementary School and one year as a science mentor. The next 22 years, Anderson served as principal — three years at Paul J. Bellew Elementary School and 19 years at Manetuck.

In the spring of 2010, Anderson received the from Partners Advancing West Islip Students (PAWS) at the group’s annual dinner/dance at the Venetian Yacht Club in Babylon.

Anderson’s retirement creates a vacancy in the principal position at Manetuck, one of the four elementary schools that will remain open following the end of the current school year.

Earlier this month, the West Islip Board of Education announced it would Kirdahy Elementary School and Westbrook in a move designed to save money and address the school district’s declining elementary-level student population.