The Pleasant Valley School Board approved the retirement of Superintendent Lee Lesisko on Thursday night and reversed course on furloughs.

Charlene Brennan, the retired executive director of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, will return to Pleasant Valley to fill in as acting superintendent and assist in the search for a new superintendent.

Brennan filled in as acting superintendent when Superintendent David Piperato resigned in October 2019. Her start date is yet to be determined, because it has to be approved by the state Public School Employees’ Retirement System.

In the interim, Assistant to the Superintendent Rae Lin Howard is the highest ranking administrator in the school district. She began working for the school district in January, and replaced Joshua Ziatyk, who resigned in May 2020.

The school board also discussed the issue of the possible furloughs of teachers and administration. The topic was tabled with no intent to furlough the staff at this time.

Board members spoke up Thursday about their reluctance to cut the teachers.

School board President Donna Yozwiak said Friday, “Once again there is no action item on the board agenda to address teacher furloughs. That may or may not be a good thing as this board continues to evaluate other cost-cutting measures in order to approve a balanced budget at month’s end. We do not and have not taken the idea of furloughs lightly. We continue to work on this challenge.

“On a personal note: From the beginning, I have been concerned and not convinced about cutting the teaching staff, not only because teachers represent the inspiration of our young people and make a lasting impact upon their lives, but because student enrollment may not dictate this decision.”

Yozwiak said too many unknowns exist about the return of students from cybercharter schools.

“In addition, far too many have suffered since the pandemic erupted. Our teachers are a vital part of the PV family and our family needs to endure.”