White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Ochser, Architect of Faculty, Renews Contract.

11 O’Clock All News Final, Filed 2/11/02 11:30 PM EST Updated 2/12/02 11:20 PM: The Board of Education voted to renew Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Dr. Linda Ochser, for three years through September, 2005, Monday evening, retaining the architect of the School District faculty review system during the Saul Yanofsky years.

Dr. Linda Ochser was praised by Dr. Saul Yanofsky Monday evening at the regular February meeting of the Board of Education, as the Board renewed her contract. Yanofsky said she was the senior member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet having served since 1989.

The outgoing Superintendent said that, in her dozen years at the faculty helm, Dr. Ochser had designed the system of committees, involving “stakeholders” of parents, teachers, labor, community and school-based groups that deal with personnel and policy issues in the schools, “bringing definite perspectives.” The Superintendent credited Ochser for having createdd “most thorough processes” for reviewing teachers for tenure, and unique evaluation forms and procedures for that review.

FACULTY “GENERAL MANAGER” INKED FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS: Dr. Linda Ochser, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources will be with the City School District for another three years. She is shown in the front row Monday night at Education House, as Dr. Yanofsky announced her retention. Dr. Ochser’s familiarity with District personnel stabilizes the district as it faces “a changing of the guard” in faculty ranks and at the top. On Monday, fifteen teachers representing 500 years of experience were announced as retiring. Dr. Joseph Casbarro, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services is also pictured.
Photo by WPCNR

While the retention of Dr. Ochser was good news, the Board accepted the retirement of Dr. Barbara Gruen, Director of Guidance Services for the District effective next October 2, 2002, and the resignation of Karen Kettlewell, Food Service Director effective March 1.

Gruen praised as “Total Guidance Professional.

Dr. Barbara Gruen, Director of Guidance Services until next October, was lauded for her fifteen years as head of the guidance program, which has seen the number of counselors districtwide go from 12 to 18 counselors.

Yanofsky praised her for the “painstaking” way she selectes counselors, her knowledge of colleges, and her ability to work with students and their families, “appropriately and sensitively, linking kids to resources within the community.” He said Dr. Gruen was “a leader within her profession.”

DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE SERVICES,Dr. Barbara Gruen, listens to Dr. Yanofsky and Dr. Casbarro recognize her contributions to the school district. Gruen will stay in her position through Oct.1, 2002.
Photo by WPCNR

Dr. Joseph Casbarro, Assistant Superintent for Pupil Services, said Ms. Gruen had three charactertistics which distinguished her “body of work,” her compassion, her advocacy, and her professionalism. He said that in the twenty years he’d known her, “she exemplified what it means to be a professional.”

Food Service Director leaves for Directorship of National Food Service Organization

Dr. Yanofsky said Ms. Kettlewell had turned around the District Food Service program since 1993, the year she joined the District. Yanofsky said she turned a program that was running a deficit of $150,000 a year, to a program that now has a $725,000 surplus (built up from 1997).

“Karen has proved you can feed children good food and make money largely by marketing food services to agencies, community groups, camps and nursery schools in the community.”

Richard Lasselle, speaking Tuesday evening, clarified his statement of Monday night, saying $425,000 of this surplus was going to be used to pay for costs of the new food service facility at White Plains High School including kitchen equipment and cafeteria tables.

The Rochelle Group, Ltd., of Congers, New York has been hired to manage the Food Service operation, taking over for Ms. Kettlewell on March 1. The group found Ms. Kettlewell for the district nine years ago, and will conduct a search for viable candidates for the position, Dr. Yanofsky said.

The group will supply an interim director who will intern a week with Ms. Kettlewell before taking over her duties when she leaves. Rochelle Group will be hired at a cost not to exceed $9,100 a month through June 30 of this year. Part of this cost will be paid for by the funds allotted for Ms. Kettlewell's salary. (The Rochelle Group has a website on White Plains Links. Simply Click on White Plains Links and go to "Schools" to get to their site.)

Superintendent Yanofsky said Ms. Kettlewell tightened up management and had designed a system that will continue in White Plains for “years to come.” He said she also was leaving “a wonderful legacy,” in deigning the new food service facility at the White Plains High School. Dorothy Schere, Board Member, recalled when Ms. Kettewell was hired, “I honestly couldn’t believe she could make money (with the food service).”

District resolves to lobby Albany to repeal Wicks Law.

Richard Lasselle, Assistant Superintendent for Business, explained a resolution the Board of Education passed advocating Albany lawmakers allow School Districts across the state to be able to choose one contractor for construction projects over $50,000.

Currently, the law on the books dating back to 1912, requires districts outside New York City to hire four different contractors: a general contractor, a heating a ventilating system contractor, electrical contractor, and a plumbing contractor.

School superintendents across the state have determined that this arrangement doubles the time it takes to complete major school projects and adds to the expense of the project. The superintendents urge citizens to write Albany by March 1 suggesting repeal of the Wicks Law.

Lasselle said there are often disputes among contractors that prolong the jobs. It happened in White Plains in 2001, when the district lost 17 working days due to wildcat work stoppages.

The two-page resolution asks Albany lawmakers to repeal the Wicks Law, allowing a one-contractor job. Lasselle expressed optimism that this year Albany lawmakers seem receptive to some change.

Fifteen Teachers retire

In a news item that shows the fortunate advantage of the Board of Education retaining Dr. Ochser, the Board of Education announced the retirement of the fifteen teachers. Yanofsky noted these men and women represented 500 years of teaching experience within the district:

Brenda Davis, School Social Worker, George Washington School; Robert DePrato, Foreign Language Teacher, High School; Susan Hirsch, Elementary Education Teacher, Church Street School; Michael Levine, Math, High School; Henry Miller, Physical Education Teacher, Mamaroneck Avenue School; Jeffrey Miller, Physical Education Teacher, MS-Highlands and High School; Beth Post, Learning Facilitator, Post Road School; Patricia Rita-Woodman, Elementary Education Teacher;Nancy Rodriguez, ESOL Teacher, High School; Regina Setikas, Special Education Teacher, MS-Highlands; Thomas Stevens, Elementary Education Teacher, MS-Highlands; Carolyn Tokson, Learning Facilitator, High School; and Steven Toovell, Art Teacher, Mamaroneck Avenue School.


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