WPCNR School Days Diplomat Courier. By John F. Bailey August 13, 2002. White Plains new Superintendent of Schools was introduced at his first Board of Education meeting Monday evening, and announced a new format for the monthly meetings. He said he was looking forward to addressing his goals for the district with White Plains teachers September 3, receiving the Board of Education’s input over the next month and sharing his goals with the public at the new twice-a-month September 23 Board of Education meeting.
TC TAKES THE REINS: Dorothy Schere, President of the Board of Education, introduces Timothy Connors at the beginning of last evening’s meeting. Mr. Connors thanked the Board and the community for asking him to take the job of Superintendent. He said he had visited every school building, met with the custodial staffs, and was very impressed with their concern and commitment to maintaining the school facilities. He said he was looking forward to meeting with the entire staff of the district September 3. He is currently seeking a home in the city, he said, but presently is still commuting from Connecticut.
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Mr. Connors suggested and the Board of Education agreed to meet twice monthly during the school year, the second and fourth Mondays of the month. He also advised moving the starting time of the Board’s meeting to 7:30 PM from the current 8 PM “Pledge of Allegiance” time. The Board concurred.
Public Forum Moved Up.
Connors, speaking in his dulcet tones, proposed a new format for the Board meetings, which the Board also agreed to. Under the new Connors “Agenda,” Mr. Connors would give a Superintendent’s Report prior to the start of the summary action items, and after he gave his report, the public would be invited to speak out on any issues relating to the forthcoming summary action items. The Board agreed to this format change by acclamation.
Members of the public would be given up to 20 minutes to speak on any matter, with individuals limited to 3 minutes, even if it were not on the agenda.
Of 85 new positions, only 7 remain unfilled.
Connors said the School District was in good shape to open the school year with only seven positions, one of them a science position at the Middle School, the other a biology teaching position at the high school, and a special education position still to be hired. The remaining four positions of are a secretarial nature.
Board OK’s hiring of Bassano’s spouse, Despite Tratoros objection.
In an uncomfortable moment, Michelle Tratoros, Board Member, asked that consideration of Janine Bassano as a teaching aid be tabled. Ms. Bassano is the wife of new Board Member, Peter Bassano.
Ms. Tratoros and William Pollak, Board member asked for an explanation of how Ms. Bassano came to be considered at the same time as Mr. Bassano was appointed to Richard Bernstein’s expired term. It was explained that the hire of Ms. Bassano (at the Eastview Middle School as a Teaching Assistant), was done independently by the school, which had no idea that Mr. Bassano was under consideration for appointment to the Board of Education, at approximately the same time. The hire was not discovered until forwarded to personnel on the 22nd of July, and Mr. Connors said he had not become aware of the hire until August 6.
Mr. Bassano said he “owed the Board an apology for not being sensitive,” on the issue that this wife was applying for a position at the same time he was.
Board members Susan Kirkpatrick and William Pollak were satisfied with this explanation, and Dorothy Schere said it was “an unfortunate coincidence.” With Bassano recusing himself from the vote, the Board voted 5 to 1, with Ms. Tratoros voting “No,” to approve the hiring of Ms. Bassano for the position.
Board approves $30,000 “Redo” of New High School Entrance Floor Tile.
The Board of Education approved a “fix” agreed-to between the District and Tratoros Construction, the contractors on the high school renovation, in which the terrazzo flooring from the Administrative offices to the new entrance of the high school is cracking.
Richard Lasselle explained that a “hidden condition” underneath the new marble tiled “terrazzo” was causing the new tile to crack. Lasselle said an independent testing firm had identified the condition: a compound on top of the existing concrete in the entranceway that the new terrazzo floor was failing to adhere to, causing the cracking.
William Pollak queried Lasselle as to why the contractor was not responsible, and Lasselle said the school’s specifications did not specify that any excess floor covering be removed down to the concrete, and that an independent testing firm had identified that a “hidden condition,” a material attached to the concrete had caused the condition.
A la carte prices of food to rise in the cafeterias.
The Board approved a rise of a la carte items in the district cafeterias, but the prices of breakfasts and lunches would remain the same. Price increases were not announced last night.
Trainer service now available to athletic teams.
The Board of Education voted to approve up to $25,000 with Pro Sports Physical Therapy to provide an athletic trainer for athletic events.
District “On the Money” in Pegging Assessment Refunds.
Richard Lasselle reported the district had finalized tax certioris for the 2001-2002 year at $978,346.55, when it had been expected the district would have to give back $1,000,000 in certioris.
In other matters–
The Board hired KG & D architects, the firm that designed the high school renovation, to begin decisn for the $3.6 million capital projects program approved last May by the voters.
The Board of Education handed out Commitee Assignments to its members. Assignments of note included: Dorothy Schere will liaison with the PTA Council; Michelle Tratoros will represent the Board with the city’s Youth Bureau; Donna McLaughlin will take the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee assignment; Maria Valentin will take the Westchester Putnam School Boards assignment.
The 2002-03 BOARD OF EDUCATION: Left to Right: Maria Valentin, William Pollak, Donna McLaughlin, Mr. Connors, Dorothy Schere, Susan Kirkpatick, Michelle Tratoros, Peter Bassano, and Clerk to the Board, Michelle Schoenfeld. The Board will meet twice monthly. Next meetings are September 9 and September 23 at 7:30 PM.
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