Kevin Warren resigned from the Amagansett School Board on Friday, creating a vacancy on the board as the district continues to struggle with issues of declining teacher morale, administrative turnover, and a controversial over-the-tax-cap budget for the next school year.
The unexpected resignation of Mr. Warren, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in October 2019 and was elected to a full term last year, means that a school board race that would have been contested is now technically uncontested.
Only the board seat now held by Dawn Rana Brophy was to be up in June; Ms. Brophy is running again, and is joined in the race by Robin Jahoda, who works as a teacher in the East Hampton School District and is an Amagansett School District parent and resident. No one else had filed to run as of Monday, which was the deadline. With Mr. Warren's resignation opening up a second seat, there are now two candidates for two seats, and both are expected to win unless another community member steps up to mount a write-in campaign.
The full three-year term will go to the person who gets the higher number of votes. The second-place finisher will serve the remaining two years of Mr. Warren's term.
In an email to The Star on Monday, Mr. Warren said the decision to resign was "extremely difficult."
"These past few months have brought many different challenges and obstacles to the board that weighed heavily on the district, parents, and students," he said. "I am looking forward to showing my continued support of this wonderful school while my son and daughter continue to excel at Amagansett, all while getting one child off to college, and spending more time with my wonderful wife. I wish Amagansett School nothing but the best as they continue to embark through this period of transition."