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Teacher, TA Tenure Awards

Clarkstown School Board will vote on awarding tenure for 14 teachers and 7 teaching assistants

 

The Clarkstown Board of Education votes tonight on awarding tenure to 21 members of its teaching staff. The probationary period for 13 of the 14 teachers ends on August 31 and tenure would go into effect on the next day of employment. One teacher’s probation period ends on April 5. 

The teachers, their subjects and schools are:

  • Danielle Bovelle-Jackson, Foreign Languages, Link Elementary School
  • Deidre Conover, Science, Clarkstown South High School
  • Stacy DeMasi, Mathematics, Felix Festa Middle School
  • Brian Donaldson, Health, Felix Festa
  • Christopher Dwyer, Social Studies, Clarkstown South
  • Jennifer Grundstein, Psychologist, Link Elementary
  • Joseph Harley, Special Education, Clarkstown North High School
  • Jessica Hoey, Science, Clarkstown North
  • Jacqueline LeBlanc Special Education, Clarkstown South
  • Mary Patella, Mathematics, Clarkstown North
  • Lindsay Popilskis, Psychologist, Birchwood School
  • Danielle Raskin, Special Education, Clarkstown South
  • Dara Ritter, Psychologist, New City Elementary School
  • Cheryl Weitzner, Special Education, Clarkstown North

The probationary periods of the seven teaching assistants (TAs) end on different dates throughout the next 11 months. Their tenure will also start on the first day of employment after tenure ends. The TAs, their schools and end dates of probation are:

  • Maureen Alden, New City, 8/31/13
  • Rebecca Barclay, Felix Festa, 10/11/13
  • Ellen Gorman, West Nyack Elementary School, 1/6/14
  • Jeremy Login, Clarkstown South, 9/30/13
  • Laura Riccoboni, Felix Festa, 10/28/13
  • Stephanie Turselli, Strawtown Elementary School, 11/25/13
  • Randy Wald, New City, 8/31/13 

Board members will also vote on a resolution to transfer $64,000 for the purchase and installation of 16 Smart Boards in elementary classrooms. The money would be taken from the undesignated fund balance and put into the current school year’s budget. The Smart Boards are designated for the Congers, West Nyack, Little Tor, Lakewood, Link, Strawtown, Laurel Plains and Bardonia schools.  Trustees will vote on rescheduling the May 1 board meeting to May 9 and to include a budget hearing on the 2013-2014 spending plan.

Additionally, trustees will vote on a tax certiorari settlement of $59,440.40 with C&M 345 North Main Street LLC. The property tax refund applies to 2008 through 2010 and for 2012 for property with two offices buildings that share a common roof. The property owner initially sought a property tax assessment reduction of 60 percent for each year. 

The settlement reduces the 2008 assessment of $1,365,800 by 18.5 percent to $1,113,100. The 2009 assessment decreases from $1,365,800 to $1,126,800, a reduction of 17.5 percent. For 2010, the assessment drops by 22.5 percent from $1,365,800 to $1,072,200 and in 2011 by 15.8 percent from $1,365,800 to $1,150,000.  The settlement allows the district to pay in two equal installments by November 15, 2013.

The board meeting begins at 8 p.m.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Kathleen May 21, 2013 at 08:55 am
CANDLE Night at the Rockland Boulders Game Join CANDLE for a fun(d)raising game on May 23rd as theRead More Rockland Boulders take on the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Proceeds from tickets purchased through CANDLE* will support programs that educate & empower youth and reduce substance abuse and violence in Rockland County and beyond.
Heywood Jablohme May 21, 2013 at 02:48 pm
I agree with most of your points, but surely you are not implying that teachers are expected toRead More produce funding to correct school roofs, right? I think you got a bit off topic here, but I agree that our educational infrastructure is in disrepair and is in desperate need of rehabilitation. Maybe if our teacher's unions allowed a little more leeway we could allocate funding a little more appropriately and fund the important things instead of overpaying paying dinosaur teachers who lost interest a long time ago and fight any and all forms of teacher benchmarking.
WGMom May 20, 2013 at 09:10 am
It's entirely true that every professional has out-of-pocket expenses. But as someone who worked asRead More a corporate trainer, I can guarantee you I NEVER had to pay out of pocket expenses for supplies to teach classes. Every piece of paper, supply, and even snacks for the participants were fully covered expenses. If I had to spend out of pocket money to procure supplies, I could submit for a reimbursement, and receive it, no questions asked. I am now in school to become a high school teacher and I can see the stark difference in how the education of folks in a corporate environment is incredibly different, and privileged, than the public school environment. I've sat through numerous classes in the Clarkstown and Ramapo districts, doing observations required for my education certification, and while Clarkstown certainly benefits from certain advantages, the shabbiness of being a public school is still there. Furniture, such as teacher desks, that looks like it was purchased in a garage sale 30 years ago... faculty bathrooms that are dark and dingy, nearly crumbling, and sorely in need of updating. Etc. The public expects teachers to have professional training, act professionally, but they lack sometimes basic resources and are expected to function in an environment that feels more like a dungeon than an institution of learning. The citizens of Clarkstown, if they could get a tour of some of the facilities they are expecting children to learn in, and teachers to teach in, would be very surprised. We do supply some great technology, but then we put it in classrooms with windows that won't stay closed when it's windy, as one example. I spent most of my time in South, which is the best of the bunch, facilities-wise. Clarkstown North is a mess, Woodglen's woods are littered with fallen trees no one's cleaned up after Sandy, Laurel Plains had to be shuttered thanks to that whole foul stench... the district is in a situation where there are major capital improvements that are going to be needed. Buildings are aging, and it seems it's only the most basic of upkeep that happens. The district can't even fix the roofs of the buildings without applying for a state grant.
Heywood Jablohme May 18, 2013 at 07:17 am
What professional doesn't spend $500 per year on out of pocket expenses related to their jobs?Read More Staples offering 10% (or 5 in some cases) is hardly an example of the community getting involved. Thankfully, there are other examples of the community and PTA's getting involved and providing needed services. Clarkstown and surrounding areas hardly have substantial unmet needs in their classroom, thankfully.
Truth4all May 16, 2013 at 11:37 am
I guess better late than never. LaCorte is serving his 4th year as Mayor and was Trustee for I thinkRead More 4 years before that. This year is the only time he has brought the idea to the village about participating in this program. He is motivated by the opportunity of getting positive press for his County Executive campaign. The village should have been involved in this program ( as well as the Americorps program) long before this. On a positive note, hopefully the Village will continue this worthwhile partnership for many years to come.
Sunny May 16, 2013 at 03:50 pm
Is there an article on patch about it? I am unable to find except on lohud.com
Green Farmer May 15, 2013 at 08:23 pm
Finally!!
b May 15, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Thank God. It's been a long time coming. Finally someone has paid attention.!!! That man has gotRead More to go.
Watchdog May 16, 2013 at 04:37 pm
George, don't you have enough to do straightening out the affairs of Clarkstown. Overtime in theRead More Police Department is rampant and the Town Attorney is out of control. As Tom Nimick says, we need an outside auditor for that operation since taxpayers were abused with the hiring of a political operative Jay Savino who I understand is singing like a canary. Get on the right side George before the FBI comes a lookin" I hear that the Gromack war chest is the first place they are looking for clues. Do the right thing George or you will get trampled with the rest of them.
Tom Nimick May 15, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Congratulations, George. Now about your other responsibilities as a member of the Town Board withRead More primary oversight over budget and expenditures: Won't you be the one to propose the needed audit of the Office of Town Attorney? You know the problems exist - likely you know more about the problems than I do. It is sad to see you silent in the face of the abuse of patronage. When will we hear your voice on it?
Teacher May 16, 2013 at 07:24 am
The new format is attractive but it is hard to find the comments that go with stories.