UTICA — Utica City School District Acting Superintendent Brian Nolan has resigned.

Nolan confirmed his resignation Tuesday afternoon. He deferred further comment to Board of Education President Joseph Hobika, Jr., who was not immediately available when called for comment.

Nolan was appointed by the school board Oct. 18, 2022 when Superintendent Bruce Karam was placed on paid administrative leave. His background as an "urban education person" was an asset in coming to Utica, he said. Nolan was suggested to the board by Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Superintendent Patricia Kilburn.

"I'm happy to be in Utica," Nolan said shortly after his appointment. "I will be here at 7:30 tomorrow morning and stay for as long as it takes."

Nolan retired in 2016 after 31 years with the Syracuse City School District district, serving formerly as the executive director of high schools, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and adult education. He also served as a secondary principal and special education teacher.

After he retired, Nolan became principal of Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School in East Syracuse and then became an independent monitor at a “turnaround” school — one that was undergoing an institutional makeover — in Syracuse for the Office of Innovation and School Reform.

Since coming to Utica, Nolan found himself named in court action brought by Karam. The New York State lawsuit was denied April 24 in Oneida County Supreme Court and a federal suit remains pending.

Nolan recently presented a proposed $243,340,050 budget with no tax levy increase to district residents, and that spending plan was approved May 16 by a vote of 2,142 to 515.

At press time, the school board had a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday evening so further details were expected later in the day.