White Plains CitizeNetReporter - P.R. Person Nixed. Mamaroneck Ave. School Contracts Approved.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. (EDITED) February 19, 2008: The regular Board of Education met last week and approved contracts for the renovation of Mamaroneck Avenue School totaling $4.4 Million. The Board also heard recommendations from Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors on the implementation of the first parts of the Strategic Plan, in which Mr. Connors recommended not hiring a full-time professional public relations person for the district, one of the recommendations of the Action Committees regarding communications.

Moving Forward: Timothy Connors, Superintendent of Schools presents Strategic Plan last week.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors recommended implementation of recommendations of the District Action Teams in each off the five areas derived from Strategies developed by the Core Planning Committee, as follows:

Insuring that every employee understands the vision, goals and implications of the mission and strategic objectives. This will be coordinated by Mr. Connors with Teresa Niss.
Implementing a systematic process to insure that all programs and projects reflect the mission and are cost effective. Assistant Superintendent Fred Seiler will direct this activity.
Achieving the goal that at least 90% of all students are reading on grade level by the end of second grade. This will be led by Assistant Superintendent Margaret Dwyer and Board President Donna McLaughlin, who will focus on the community commitment to the importance of reading.

In discussion of this goal, WPCNR noted that Ms. Dwyer said that 81% of White Plains Kindergarten Students leaving Kindergarten in June are performing at grade level, and that 68% of White Plains First and Second Graders as of June 2007 were performing at Grade Level.

Superintendent of Connors emphasized that there were no increased costs expected from this goal since programs are already in place to address this issue

Developing proficiency in the essential characteristics of effective leadership in all district admin- istrators. Assistant Superintendent Lenora Boehlert and others will be responsible for this.
Instituting a process for a coordinated and integrated approach to disseminate information about the district. Mr. Connors plans to convene a steering committee to provide direction. He recommended against hiring a full-time public relations person, because he expected such a person would cost the district at least $100,000 a year and that it would not be good public relations for the district to do this at this time.

CAPITAL PROJECT ON MAMARONECK AVENUE SCHOOL FORGES AHEAD

Contracts totaling about $4.4 million were awarded for the renovation and construction work at Mamaroneck Avenue School. This is the third set of bids for capital projects that has come in under budget -- this one by 20%. Bids for the new Post Road School will follow in a few weeks and the tracks (at Highlands Parker Stadium and the High School Loucks Field) should be completed once the warmer weather arrives.

Board Member Bill Pollak commented that because the Wicks Law is still in effect, separate contractors are required, at a greater cost to the district.

The contracts, Russell Davidson of Keyer Garment & Davidson, the architects overseeing the project went to contractors that KG & D has worked with on prior projects, all of whom were low bidders on the Mamaroneck Avenue School.. Construction Services, LLC was designated the General Contractor on the project for $2,459,000.

The HVAC contractor is Mengler Mechanical with a bid of $767,000; the Plumber is Beneway Incorporated for $169,148, and the Electrical Contractor is Talt Electric on a bid of $607,000.

RECOGNITION OF INTEL SEMIFINALIST: Timothy Selg, teacher of the High School’s Science Research Program, proudly presented Adam Lanman, (above) White Plains High School’s 14^th Semifinalist in the prestigious National Intel Science Talent Search.

Mr. Lanham's study observing video tapes of White Plains High School Hall activity (made with permission), showed that the denseness of WPHS hall traffic did not result in bottlenecks created by students grouping to converse. He said the opposite was true, that though two students might stop to talk, groups of 2 or more did not linger long due to being pulled in opposite directions by their classroom destinations. This was contrary to preconceived perceptions. There were no comparative studies available conducted on street encounters.

One of only 300 students chosen nationwide, Adam made a presentation on his topic entitled: “A Physical Model for the Grouping Behavior of Adolescent Pedestrians.” The program is in its tenth anniversary year and Mr. Selg expressed appreciation to everyone who has provided support -- the Board, administration, Principal Ivan Toper, Science Coordinator Margaret Doty, mentors of the students and particularly the parents.

RETIREMENTS: The Board accepted resignations for the purpose of retirement from 12 staff

members and Mr. Connors and Board members thanked them for their services and wished them

well. Retirees are: Joan Kass, Coordinator of LOTE and ESOL, 6-12; Allyson Alfano, Teaching

Assistant at George Washington School; Mary Jane Hoag, Teaching Assistant at New York Hos-

pital; Joseph Thigpen, Custodian, High School; William DeFeo, English Teacher High School;

Catherine Gruder, Reading Teacher, Middle School-Highlands; Karen Jenkins, Reading Teacher, Middle School-Eastview; Lidia Lyman, School Counselor, High School; Elaine Norelli, Mathe matics Teacher, High School; Thomas O’Connell, Special Education Teacher, High School; Susan Rosenzweig, Speech Teacher, Middle School-Eastview & High School; and Marian Steinberg, Special Education Teacher, New York Presbyterian Hospital Program.

Mrs. Kass was thanked for her many initiatives, the special programs she has led, and for

establishing a strong foundation for the district in the area of languages.

PERSONNEL: Eva Cieloszyk was given a probationary appointment as a Latin Teacher at the

Highlands Middle School and the High School.

Two Teaching Assistants were awarded tenure: Michele Bellantoni at Post Road School, and

Henry Burford at the Middle School-Highlands.

DONATIONS: The Board accepted the following donations: $100 from Laurie Bass and David Fine for High School Orchestra instruments and for the High School Choir trip to the Penn State University Choral Festival; $500 from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hollahan for the High School Choir Penn State trip; $2,000 from an anonymous donor for the High School Choir Penn State trip; Sample fabric books from Joyce Duffy for use by the High School Art Department; and $600 from the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church for the Manhattanville/Centro Hispano Hispanic Outreach Tutorial Program. Mr. Connors thanked these donors for their generosity.

MEETINGS:

March 3: Special Meeting, Education House 7:30 P.M. (Expected to include discussion on the 2008-2009 School Budget -- is described as being a "Budget Workshop."

March 5: Second Meeting with Annual Budget Committee, Education House, 7:30 P.M. to include presentation of a potentially lower Preliminary School Budget Presentation

March 10: Regular Meeting, High School, 7:30 P.M.

Scholar-Athlete Recognition

MOMENT OF SILENCE: Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors asked for a moment of

silence in memory of Bernice Banker, an elementary Music Teacher who had been with the district

for 32 years prior to her retirement.


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