Meet Peekskill Schools’ New Human Resources Chief

Peekskill school officials are looking to the district’s newly appointed director of human resources to rectify shortcomings cited in a recent audit.

Mary Sculnick, who begins work April 16, was appointed to the newly restored post March 20 by the Board of Education. The district had been without a human resources chief since the job was eliminated a year ago during an administrative reorganization.

Sculnick has an extensive career in human resources in New York public schools. She most recently has served as executive assistant for human resources in the Ossining Union Free School District and earlier was director of human resources in the South Orangetown Central School District, director of personnel in the East Ramapo Central School District and administrative assistant for human resources in the Albany City School District.

A graduate of Catskill High School, Sculnick has a B.A. degree from SUNY Oswego, an M.S. degree in educational communications from Ithaca College, school administrator coursework from various institutions and advanced coursework in labor relations and contract administration from Cornell University. She has experience in all areas of human resources management, including staffing projections, recruitment, hiring, orientation, benefits, salary management, the tenure process, retention, compliance, counseling, training and professional development.

 “We are fortunate to have someone with Ms. Sculnick’s knowledge of human resources issues come on board at this time,” Superintendent of Schools James Willis said in a press release issued Monday by the district. “A recent audit showed numerous deficiencies primarily due to understaffing and being without an H.R. director, and I have every confidence in her to turn that around. She’ll be a huge value to the district.”