A Statement Regarding Newsday Article re: Dr. James Hunderfund 

            The Board of Education has reviewed the recent Newsday article regarding former Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund.  While the Board of Education annually approved the amount of his salary under his employment contract, the amount of Dr. Hunderfund’s pension was approved by the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System and not the school district.  The Commack School District did not participate in the process between Dr. Hunderfund and the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System in determining the amount of his pension, except that the District provided salary and benefit information requested by the Retirement System.  The amount of his pension was the product of more than 40 years of service in several school districts in New York State.  Dr. Hunderfund’s salary in his final years with the District reflected more than thirteen years of continuous service to Commack and the results the District achieved under his stewardship.

           There is no pension liability to the District for Dr. Hunderfund or any other retired Commack employee, as all costs are paid during the time of employment.