Wyandanch schools chief temporarily suspended

The Wyandanch Board of Education has temporarily suspended superintendent Pless Dickerson, a district spokesman said in a statement Friday.

Longtime administrator Mary Jones has been named acting superintendent, school officials said.

Dickerson, who has an annual salary of $203,000, will be paid through the end of his contract on July 1, 2014. The board voted 5-1 to approve Jones as acting superintendent Wednesday, with one abstention, according to school officials.

"The board felt an urgency to temporarily suspend Mr. Dickerson but cannot comment any further about the details until an-ongoing internal investigation is completed," Nathan Jackson, a district spokesman, said in a statement released Friday.

Dickerson, 65, who separately is a trustee of the Westbury school board and is that board's current vice president, said he has not been given any specifics regarding his suspension and declined further comment. Dickerson had led the district since 2010 when he took over from Jones, who was acting superintendent.

Jones has been employed by the district for 18 years and previously served as assistant superintendent for human resources and secondary curriculum, and as a middle school principal. As superintendent, her wages rose $13,250 to an annual salary of $185,000, Jackson said.