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Personal Reasons Cited For Peekskill Principal's Resignation

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- Peekskill High School principal Fred Hutchinson, who announced his resignation on Wednesday, is resigning because of personal reasons, the Peekskill City School District announced.

The Peekskill City School District said Fred Hutchinson is resigning due to personal reasons.

The Peekskill City School District said Fred Hutchinson is resigning due to personal reasons.

Photo Credit: Anita Prentice

Interim Superintendent Dr. Larry Licopoli said Hutchinson has a three-hour commute everyday and has family issues at home.

"That's the purpose of his resignation," Licopoli said. "We truly wish him well."

Hutchinson's resignation will be voted on by the Board of Education  Feb. 17 at the next Board of Education meeting and is effective June 30.

Licopoli said Hutchinson decided to inform the district now to give it ample time to find a replacement.

"We will begin as soon as possible," Licopoli said. "He did a lot of hard work for the high school."

Licopoli said they would meet with stakeholders in March while posting the position immediately. 

"We want to have a discussion about the ideas we have for a new high school principal," Licopoli said. "We will start looking at candidates related to our overall needs."

The superintendent said he doesn't believe Peekskill will need to appoint an interim principal and that he was not surprised by Hutchinson's decision.

During his tenure, Hutchinson discovered 34 seniors received credits for phony classes, according to the district.

Hutchinson discovered several irregularities in student transcripts shortly after he was hired in 2012 and reported them to then-superintendent James Willis. A criminal investigation led to the discovery of the bogus classes and four guidance counselors being reassigned.

Licopoli said the transcript scandal had nothing to do with Hutchinson's resignation.

Two principals and two superintendents have now left the district during the time of the transcript scandal.

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