The Manhasset Board of Education unanimously approved a separation agreement with District Superintendent Vincent Butera during a special meeting on Monday night.
Butera, who has been on paid administrative leave since May 2021 due to a sexual harassment investigation, will remain on leave until his resignation from the school district becomes effective on July 11, according to the agreement. Butera will also receive the full remainder of his annual pay, $286,844, until his contract expires on June 30, 2023, according to the agreement.
Butera’s benefits will not be paid for by the district after July, according to the agreement.
Board of Education President Pat Aitken read a prepared statement on behalf of the board during the meeting. “Consistent with how all District personnel matters are handled, including protecting the privacy of all individuals involved, the matter remained confidential,” the statement read.
Butera, in a statement through spokesperson Jamie Moss of newsPros, reflected on his experience serving the school district and said he was grateful for the support he received from community stakeholders including various educators and district officials at board meetings.
“My years with Manhasset were fulfilling, and I am leaving the District proud of the accomplishments we achieved together,” the statement read. “I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from so many in the community over these past unfortunate months. You will never know how much your kindness and support meant during this difficult time for me and for my family.”
In September 2020, a Shelter Rock Elementary School teacher filed a complaint alleging that Butera made her feel uncomfortable after hugging her twice in school and frequently visiting her classroom to “just stand in the back and stare,” according to NBC News. Both incidents were described as “creepy.” Following Butera’s voluntary leave, the school district appointed Gaurav Passi to serve as interim superintendent in August, a position he remains in.
After that filing, the district hired the law office of Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert to investigate the allegations, according to reports. Two months later, the firm found that since Butera’s actions were perceived as unwelcome by the teacher, they were against district policy.
Blank Slate Media tried to obtain a document outlining the law firm’s findings through a public-records request in May, but Rosemary Johnson, deputy superintendent for business and operations, declined to release it, citing the district’s attorney-client privilege and saying the record’s disclosure would “result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Aitken acknowledged the “heated reaction in the school community” as a result of the investigation but said some of the claims against Butera by those urging that he be removed from his position were “uninformed.”
Butera said he appreciated the board’s “comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the situation” and that the decision to not enforce any disciplinary actions was the correct one.
“I am pleased that as a result of what the Board learned during the investigation process, it made necessary and recommended revisions to the District’s harassment policy for the benefit of all,” Butera said.
District officials did not say what the specific changes to the harassment policy were.
Aitken said Butera helped navigate the district through the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritized the mental health and well-being of students, staff and families during his four-year tenure as superintendent.
“With the passage of time, both Dr. Butera and the District have mutually agreed that it is now best to put this chapter behind us,” Aitken said. This understandably has been a difficult time for the Manhasset school community, Dr. Butera, and everyone involved in this matter. We remain hopeful this resolution will enable all to move forward.”
