WPCNR Roving Photographer. May 4, 2004: Today’s Roving Photographer goes astray from White Plains and delivers a classic shot from out of the past, an anachronomism rarely seen in these parts any more: the freight train. The Roving Photographer loves trains, and is sometimes distracted.
SLOW SHORT FREIGHT. CHESSIE SYSTEM. Haverstraw NY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer.
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By Captain Ann FitzSimmons, White Plains Police Department. May 4, 2004: The WPPD has issued a set of citizen crime prevention tips for the summer months to protect yourself and deter potential criminal activity. If citizens have further questions and concerns, contact the Community Advocacy Division at 422-6227 for further recommendations:
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
For the spring and summer
The warm weather of spring and summer is upon us and here are some tips on how to safeguard your home and family during this season
Protect your home while you are out ….
If you are away for vacation…
Use common sense to spot a con….
When driving….
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL THE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY DIVISION 422-6227
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.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 3, 2004: In the matter of the preparation, or lack thereof, of the Eastview Middle School athletic fields, which WPCNR reported as being rejected by the School District last week by an Athletic Department source, for the condition of the outfields and infields, Mike Lynch, School Facilities Director denied today as inaccurate that he had ever “rejected” the fields.
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.