WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 3, 2004, Updated  11:40 P.M.E.D.T.: The White Plains Board of Education terminated Dr.  Christine Robbins as Principal of White Plains High School tonight, effective July 1.

The action came after a one hour Executive Session which was promptly called at 7:30 and the Board trooped out to a separate room. The audience of some 60 persons by count of Michelle Schoenfeld, (Clerk to the Board of Education), sat patiently waiting to comment on the resolution on the Special Meeting agenda terminating Dr. Robbins’ employment.

After listening to members of the audience, including Robert Ruger, Harry Bright, two students, a science teacher who read comments from 10 colleagues in support of Dr. Robbins, and a series of parents speak all in favor of continuing Dr. Robbins’ 18-months at the high school, the Board voted 7-0 to go along with Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors recommendation she be relieved of her duties. Dr. Robbins said she would stay at the school until July 1, when her employment ends. No reasons were given for her termination, President of the Board of Education, Donna McLaughlin said, out of respect for Dr. Robbins. Upon the vocal vote, concerned parents snarled at the Board saying “this is a disgrace, a disgrace. We’ll remember this at election time.”

OTHER WOMEN ADMINISTRATORS ALLEGED TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY DISTRICT: Dr. Donald Robbins, husband of WPHS Principal Dr. Christine Robbins, ( in gray suit, seated with pad), questioned the Board of Education’s process of evaluation of Dr. Robbins, consistent with the extensive background checks and interviewing process used to hire her and charged that they knew of other women in the School District, administrators, who alleged they were discriminated against, and asked the district to investigate, and that the school district had conducted an investigation of those allegations. Timothy Connors, Superintendent of Schools, told WCBS-TV tonight that the district had conducted an investigation which would be made public Tuesday. Dr. Robbins brother, Robert, shown to the immediate right of Dr. Robbins spoke on her behalf, saying her whole life is education, “you couldn’t have a better person.” Dr. Robbins told WCBS-TV tonight she had never been evaluated in her eighteen months on the job. She also alleged Connors had talked in a condescending way to her on a number of occasions “From Day One.” She said to the WCBS-TV Reporter he had called her on her cellphone once when she was on-duty and asked “What are you doing? Shopping?”, as an example of one of those alleged discriminatory remarks.  Photo by WPCNR News

A lawyer for Dr. Robbins, George Shebitz,  of Shebitz, Cohen & Berman, (www.shebitzlaw.com) said before the meeting that if Dr. Robbins was terminated they planned to sue the school district in federal court on the grounds of discrimination and gender bias. Dr. Robbins told WCBS-TV, she would continue on the job, and would think about getting another job tomorrow.

Mr. Shebitz revealed to WPCNR that Dr. Robbins was given notice by the Superintendent of Schools of her termination at the end of March in a 3/4 page letter containing three reasons. Shebitz said that Dr. Robbins wrote an 8-1/2 page letter to Mr. Connors in her defense, and never received a response.

Connors on Channel 2: “She wasn’t fired. She was terminated.” Search to begin.

Timothy Connors speaking to WPCNR tonight, after a discussion of school test scores performance, which took place after the Robbins termination was accomplished, said the search for a new principal would begin immediately. Asked what kind of Principal he was looking for, he said, “Someone who will lead the district into the future, and bring people together with the administration on a common mission — an experienced leader able to create a collegial environment.”

Connors said he had not any person as a replacement in mind. He also said the White Plains Teachers Union had no role in encouraging Dr. Robbins’ dismissal. He also noted that the decision on the new principal at Ridgeway School was imminent and would be announced soon.

Why they voted yes.

Donna McLaughlin, President of the Board of Education, had no comment except to say WPCNR’s handicapping of the vote in Sunday’s preview report predicting the termination was untrue, and she did not appreciate it, and she did not appreciate it.

Peter Bassano, said “it was absolutely the right decision,” but declined to say why.

Terence McGuire said, “I voted to support the Superintendent.”

William Pollak, said he “did not want to get into it.”

Susan Kirkpatrick, appeared embarrassed, and appeared to have voted to support the Superintendent.

Maria Valentin said “I am not going to comment to you.”

WPCNR was unable to ask Ms. Tratoros the question.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 3, 2004: The Common Council holds a public hearing on the city budget for fiscal year 2004-2005, beginning July 1, as part of their regular monthly meeting. The meeting will be televised this evening, live on “The Government Channel,” Channel 75, at 7:30 P.M. E.D.T.

Also on tap will be a continuation of the hearing involving the granting of a permit for two young women to operate a New York style club lounge for 30-somethings adjacent to The Lazy Boy Saloon on Mamaroneck Avenue. The Commissioner of Planning had some reservations about the bar last month. The Council will also have a public hearing considering the granting of  a renewal of a Special Permit for Vintage Restaurant and bar on Main Street.

The ongoing Public Hearing on the Louis Cappelli Hotel Development for 221 Main Street will resume this evening with tighter, coherent site plans expected.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 2, 2004: The White Plains City School District Board of Education will take up the matter of a request by the Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Conners to “terminate” Dr. Christine Robbins, the current Principal of White Plains High School at its Special Meeting Monday night, WPCNR has learned. Dr. Robbins, the last hire of Dr. Saul Yanofsky, former Superintendent of Schools, has been principal of the high school since July, 2002.

Superintendent of Schools Conners has been reluctant to comment in detail to WPCNR on the reasons for his recommendation. Board of Education members have refused comment because it is a “personnel matter.” However, one Board member told WPCNR that Mr. Conners has “performance issues” with Dr. Robbins, without being specific.

Saturday, Stephen Taft, candidate for the Board of Education, who spoke on Dr. Robbins’ behalf at the Board of Education meeting April 19, told WPCNR he expected a number of parents to turn out tomorrow night and support Dr. Robbins.

Taft said Robbins has been very accessible on addressing parent issues he has raised,  including audit-accounting of athletic team fundraising efforts, and possible loss of $800 a family  resulting from the high school cancellation by Superintendent Connors, (now being described by the high school as  “postponed”), of the school’s trip to Spain after the Madrid train bombing. 

Taft, in his remarks at the April meeting said he felt Dr. Robbins was a very visible, and responsive Principal at the high school. 

He told WPCNR the primary reason he is running for School Board is the Superintendent of Schools’ appearance of imposing his policies on the School Board, and the Board’s willingness to go along with them without thorough examination.

He told WPCNR the secrecy surrounding the Robbins criticism and now, the attempt to oust Robbins from her post after less than two years on the job, convinced him he should run for the seat.

Taft said, he felt the Board had already decided to remove Dr. Robbins,  but still held out hope the Board would not follow Mr. Connors recommendation. WPCNR noting the Board’s strong support for Superintendent Connors’ positions, and initiatives handicaps the vote this way:

WPCNR would consider that  Donna Mclaughlin, Peter Bassano and Michelle Tratoros would vote for the ouster with Terry McGuire and William Pollak (two very independent individuals) voting against, with Maria Valentin and Susan Kirkpatrick (who is leaving the School Board at the end of her term, and a “no” vote would not affect her), as possible swing votes.

High School Has Issues it Needs to Address

A factor to consider in the decision to initiate a search for a new principal is that Linda Ochser, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, one of the last holdovers from the Yanofsky Superintendent’s cabinet, is retiring. Dr. Joseph Casbarro, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services is the last Yanofsky cabinet member remaining in Mr. Connors’ cabinet.

Any new Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources would have the delicate job of finding a principal for the most important Principalship in the district as their first job.

Terminating a principal before three years would raise any prime candidate’s eyebrows in considering the position, and probably result in the demand for a very costly compensation package, or result in an inferior candidate. Another option for the district could be to promote a popular assistant Principal within the high school to “keep the lid on,” but perhaps not be a strong leader.

Any principal coming in to White Plains High School should have to take up several very key issues that exist at White Plains High School:

1.) The Achievement Gap between African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian students.  

2.)  The teenage drinking situations policy, enforcement, and penalties

3.)The inadequate management of the brand-new School Cafeteria and the demonstrated cafeteria failure on a daily basis  to feed all its 1,861 students a nutritious lunch on time, without long line waits. 

4.) The editorial control of the school newspaper.

Can a “Caretaker Principal” Make Real Change?

These are not issues, in WPCNR’s opinion that “a caretaker Principal” promoted from within, where they are not going to go against their colleagues and do anything to rock the boat,  is going to deal with in a manner that will effect real change for the benefit of the students.

Rumors surfaced in December that Dr. Robbins was going to be removed in early January, and replaced by a popular recent retiree “to keep the lid on.” The Board of Education was reluctant to do that at the time, according to our sources.  At the time when asked about this,  Superintendent of Schools Connors told WPCNR, “Dr. Robbins is our Principal and she’s going to be our principal for a while.”

This is not the first time the Board of Education has taken up a delicate personnel matter without involving the public. Superintendent of Schools Saul Yanofsky was terminated by the Board of Education, which kept his termination secret for six months.

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WPCNR ALL NEWS FINAL. April 30, 2004: Black, acrid smoke could be seen from central White Plains from a brush fire that broke out approximately 2:30 PM Friday afternoon, and burned 5 to 6 acres of rushes beside the Central Westchester Expressway before the White Plains Fire Department brought it under control and doused the flames. As of 5 P.M., the Fire Department had one truck standing by to put out the “hot spots,” said White Plains Fire Chief Richard Lyman. Lyman noted the Central Westchester Expressway had to be closed for an hour, tying up traffic on North Broadway.

SWAMP FIRE AFTERMATH: Chief Lyman reported that Friday afternoon’s brush fire started North of the playing fields of George Washington School and spread North towards the Stop N Shop before it was brought under control. He said that 4 White Plains fire engines and two trucks responded to protect the homes on Cummings Street (off Orchard). William Houlihan, a White Plains fireman on the scene said the fire started in the middle of the swamp rushes. He said his men ran two 2-1/2 inch “attack hoses” into the brush from the end of Cummings Avenue and poured water on the fire. He noted the wind was in the fire department’s favor blowing from the South, and not towards the homes on Cummings Avenue. Chief Lyman said the fire was brought under control in 15 to 20 minutes. Two trucks from North White Plains were seen pouring water on the burned area on the edge of the Stop N Shop parking lot. Firefighter Houlihan of Engine 67 said Engine 67 was on a training mission and were first to respond.  The Chief said the cause was undetermined at this time, and warranted “further investigation,” but allowed for the possibility that it was a natural fire which happen. Photo by WPCNR News.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 3, 2004, UPDATED 6 P.M.:  WPCNR has learned that the City School District has refused to accept the Eastview baseball and softball fields,  newly resurfaced and graded by the City of White Plains, calling them unsafe and not ready to play. This has resulted in the exiling the White Plains Middle School softball and baseball modified teams to other fields in the city.

On Monday afternoon, Mike Lynch, Facilities Director for the school district, called WPCNR and said he had not rejected the fields, (as WPCNR was told by a school district authority) and that the fields were not offered by the city to the district to accept or reject. Lynch said he, his foreman, Bennie Cipriano, and Athletic Director Mario Scarano had toured the field and met and Lynch said he had discussed with the foreman and Mr. Scarano ways the field could be improved.

When asked if he felt the fields were fit for the White Plains children to play ball on at that time, Mr. Lynch did not answer my question. When asked what improvements he felt had to be made at that discussion, Mr. Lynch did not tell me what the improvements he had to be made. He did say the city had discussed borrowing a roto tiller to loosen up the infields.

When asked if he knew a date when the city would have the fields “ready,” Lynch said he did not have a date.

READY TO PLAY? SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT THINK SO: The newly resurfaced field at Eastview Middle School the School District was depending on for middle school baseball and softball was being raked this morning by workers, contracted for by the city, trying to clear it of extensive broken glass so a soccer game sponsored by the Department of Recreation & Parks could be played there, a city hall spokesman, Paul Wood said. The School District rejected the fields this week  as unfit for play, and refused to accept them from the city. The City Department of Recreation and Parks has made available Delfino II and Gille II fields to accommodate practices and games of the Middle School baseball and softball teams as the field is brought up to School District standards. WPCNR surveyed the fields this morning and noted extensive shards of glass throughout half the soccer field, an unraked infield, and an outfield/soccer field with tufts of crab grass and extensive bare patches, obviously not resodded during the renovation.  Photos by WPCNR News.

Parents informed WPCNR of the loss of the fields late Thursday evening, reporting the closure was necessitated by  vandalism of the fields, leaving broken glass on the surfaces. WPCNR will attempt to find out how long the fields will be out of commission.

Paul Wood said he would check into when the city expected to have the fields ready.

The baseball and softball fields behind the Stop N Shop were supposed to be prepared and readied by the City Department of Public Works to be the home fields for the White Plains Middle School teams this spring. Now due to the reported glass-strewn field the Middle School teams, parents say, will be limited to one hour practices due to the busing required to ferry Highlands and Eastview athletes to a different venue in the city. The school district is looking into the possibilities of adding on a special bus for the Middle School players, in order to extend the practices.

The White Plains modified softball and baseball teams have traditionally been the poor cousins of White Plains Athletic program, playing on the delapidated Ralph Field, just recently skinned for softball. This year thanks to the city, modified softball was going to be different with the “upgrading” of the Eastview fields. Now, unless the city and the School District work fast to shape up the fields and make them safe that will not happen, and another class of Middle School players will be forced to play in minimum standard playing conditions.

WPCNR was surprised for on closer inspection of the field there was no new sodding, there were multiple bare spots, that in our opinion, would cause unsafe footing for soccer players who have to make sharp cuts and dekes far more than outfielders do.

For a supposedly redone field, it is a disgrace.

It was the second time in a week that the Department of Public Works ability to maintain the city fields was brought into question, since the DPW took over the fields a year and a half ago.  City fields were declared unplayable Tuesday evening due to .75 inches of rain Monday, which is not a lot of rain.