The Clarkstown Board of Education approved tenure for almost 30 employees at a Tuesday afternoon meeting. Once the session began, the board adjourned to an executive session for about 15 minutes.
Four of the seven board members were present for the smooth-running meeting. Tenure was recommended by Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan and awarded to almost 30 administrators, teachers and teaching assistants nearing the end of their probationary period. Many were joined by family, friends and school colleagues, who gave them a standing ovation.
The administrators who received were:
- Julie Dahl, Assistant Principal at Clarkstown South High School
- Amy Franchi, Assistant Principal at Clarkstown North High School
- Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Professional Development, District Office
The teachers who received tenure were:
- Marianna Artale-Dougherty, Special Education, District
- Khris Arvanites, Science, Clarkstown South
- Montserrat Ballina-Llosa, Foreign Languages, Clarkstown South
- Stephen Barrett, Special Education, Felix Festa Middle School
- Marietta Bennett, Speech/Hearing Impairment, Felix Festa
- Lisa Cavallo, Special Education, Birchwood School
- Jane Dinnegan, Elementary, Link Elementary School
- Jill Fliesser, Science, Clarkstown South
- Laura Hagan, ESL, Link
- Ryan Hurm, Speech/Hearing Impairment, Birchwood
- Joan Jordan, Special Education, Clarkstown North
- Niamh McCabe, Music, Felix Festa
- Erin McGrath, Speech/Hearing Impairment, West Nyack Elementary School
- Andrea Miranda, Foreign Languages, Clarkstown North
- Mariam Moccio, Foreign Languages, Felix Festa
- Joseph Stefania, Business Education, South and North
- Julie Upton, Music, Little Tor Elementary School
The teaching assistants who were awarded tenure were:
- Dina Cannavale, Strawtown Elementary School
- Joanne Coulter, Clarkstown South
- Brenda Holohan, Link
- Susan King, Woodglen Elementary School
- Doreen Merrigan, Clarkstown North
- Carole Sacco, West Nyack
The superintendent thanked the newly tenured employees for helping the children of Clarkstown achieve success and for their service to the district.
“The quality of this system basically stands on your shoulders,” she said.
Board member Joe Malgieri said, “I know how hard each and every one of you has worked to get to this point.”
Board Trustee Robert Alan Carlucci congratulated the employees and Trustee Diane Hoeneveld wished them a long and successful career with the district.
Phil DeGaetano praised the teaching assistants and teachers for helping the district’s students and thanked them for the salary freeze, which had helped the district.
Before the board began voting on agenda items, John LaNave, assistant superintendent for business, facilities and fiscal management spoke during the public comment period. He noted that he was losing a valued employee with the retirement of Joel Spanier, an administrative assistant in Business Services, on June 30.
“I know you have to vote yes,” LaNave said. “I wish there was a way you keep him.”
CALL MR LANAVE ON MONDAY 639-6300 HE CAN GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS SAM I'M AT HOME I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS HERE. DEGAETANO
Opponent: “The bond is too big!” Proponent: “It seems a cost-effective way to address serious needs in all buildings.” Opponent: “Stop saying I hate kids!” Proponent: “…what…?” We have not seen a variety of plans that address the issues at more reasonable costs because it is not possible. Break up the scope of work and the cost savings of the larger scale project are lost. Further, the 2012 NYS reimbursement rate (estimated 21%) is far lower than the 2009 rate (55%), so even the exact same project will cost millions more to the local taxpayers in 2012 and beyond. Regardless, as Mr. D. pointed out, any bond would likely fail in this climate. But I would think that the bond opponents would be the ones to defy simple economics of scale and present the mini-bond plans that would have addressed the needs of the CCSD at lower cost. It just can't be done.
Suzy, great point!
Do you really think we have vacations when the students do? When do you think we grade papers? Do the math. Are one or (gasp) two free periods a day enough to grade the papers of possibly a hundred children or to complete the huge amount of administrative work required of teachers? When we give our free periods and our lunchtimes to help students in need, when do you think we grade papers and work on lesson plans? At home! That takes takes hours to do correctly in order to best benefit your children. It is galling to continually hear those who have no idea what a teacher does bash us with the, "You only work..." nonsense. Please, walk into any teacher's classroom and do the job for a month and then comment.
The system is flawed and filled with politics. There is no simple answer. We do need people on the BOE and in administrative positions who are focused on the education of our children. Clarkstown - how can we find and keep good teachers, evaluate them fairly, and pay them fairly so they want to stay in this "elite" school district?
No need to request an investigation into me...I am fully cooperating with various authorities as are many others. You seem to think it's inside knowledge I possess. I say nonsense. The incident I refer to with a teacher is factual. You think something like that happens in a vacuum? You admire Montague for not engaging in "hate and accusations" > do you comprehend how absurd this statement is? I have the vendetta? Montague has integrity and respect? Are you one who believes MKC destroyed the Greece school district? Do you know the origin of that rumor? I believe Montague is an ineffective president and the end of his term cannot arrive soon enough for the teachers who are too scared to voice their true feelings. I believe the teachers are NOT his priority. I love the picture of Katz with Montague. Katz can't get along with half his board but he sure can with Montague. I wonder why...
Your opinion is one; not all company owners feel the same. Return on investment is vital. Once again, Clarkstown has gotten itself into this situation and must remove itself from it. This does not necessarily mean a new Superintendent. It may mean more fiscal responsibility in other aspects of management in the district. It may mean a salary freeze for top administrators, who so many here say earn more than their return on investment.
I have very different views of evaluation than most. Years ago, in an inner-city setting, part of my evaluation was based on student attendance. The theory was that if teachers taught well, students would not skip school (elementary). Is that an appropriate evaluation tool when students are kept home to babysit and clean house while a parent works? It didn't last long, though it affected us greatly. The administration was not in tune with what was important in the classroom and what made a good teacher a good teacher. Here, we are already losing good administrators. Soon our good teachers will be leaving. The administration, the BOE and the teachers must be in tune with each other for our children to benefit. It irks me that this district boasts its per pupil cost. (Clarkstown public schools spend $12,062 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $5,678.) How are those funds used? Why is my child getting materials copied on scrap paper and why are teachers telling my child there is not enough paper in school, so the students have to bring in their own paper to do work in class? This is ridiculous. The cost? It is higher than any salary. There is much to look at in Clarkstown.
My guess is this has more to to with the ongoing feud "some people" (perhaps board members or their close friends/family/associates) have with their Union boss. I defy you to find 6 people who aren't on the "inside" of this issue who care at all what the Teacher's Union may pay its officers..
As we move closer to the third Tuesday in May, which this year falls on the 15th, the budget and the candidates will certainly be looked at carefully, and by many. No doubt, this election will result in change. Three seats are up and as of now it is anyone's guess who will be running. We won't know for sure until petitions are handed in on April 16th. Let us keep the focus where it should be, on what are the best choices for our children, and we can look forward to a brighter and quieter time in Clarkstown.
Whether you like it or not, in order to get teachers and RETAIN good teachers CCSD has to pay competitive rates and have competitive packages. I don't like it but its a fact. Same with the super salary. What she makes is nothing in compared to her responsibilities and the garbage she has to put up with. You want someone educated, with experience? You are going to have to pay. Fact of life. And please don't compare a supers salary with that of the state level officials. They get payola and stipends from other avenues that compensate for their shortage in salary. NON of them is living on their paycheck. Don't they get to live in nice estates with food etc on the States dime?