Timing, Like Location, Is Everything

Take a few minutes to read our two previous posts to get an inkling of what is transpiring on the Warburg campus. Specifically, Greenburgh Schools Superintendent Chase sent out a letter via email (so not everyone has received it), that highlights “several areas of concern” about the building referred to as the “Mansion” and its structural integrity. The Mansion houses the Board of Education administration and several early childhood program classrooms. The Superintendent claims that their architectural firm CSARCH, confirmed the Mansion is unsafe for students and staff to be in. Here’s a link to the letter and the CSARCH memo she sent out:

https://www.greenburghcsd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=536&ModuleInstanceID=321&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=9745&PageID=3250

There are accompanying pictures with the brief report that appear to have been faxed using equipment from the early 1980s. In one picture there is an arrow pointing to an exterior window that says “deteriorated plaster ceiling”. In another, an arrow points to another window that says Suspended ACT ceiling. What are they really showing in these pictures? See below.

In total, this memo from CSARCH includes four points of concern covering the condition of the building. Our initial reaction regarding this newfound concern was why this was ignored until two business days before school reopens? The School Board, already suffering from a poor reputation with the community after they misled the taxpayers through omission regarding the School District Bond Vote in March, should have been all over this. But they weren’t. Why not?

In fact, we visited the Mansion the day after the school board meeting and found Dr Chase in her car outside where scene-tape prohibited entry. There was a brief exchange. When asked why she waited to expose this issue until now, she said it was known and in the original bond. It wasn’t in the $114 million-dollar bond, nor the previous bond for $166 million-dollars. We pointed out that they removed the Woodlands HS $47 million-dollars repairs from the $166 to get to the $114 million. She stated it was in the original $198 million bond. However, we know that the initial bond proposition was never offered to the public. It was shot down internally because of the prohibitive price tag. When asked if anyone was still in the building (it was about 5PM), she stated she was the last one out. A few more words were exchanged before she drove off.

Walking around the building and unable to gain entry (not that we would enter an unsafe structure), we could see through the windows that there were lights and computers still turned on throughout the building. Here’s two pictures of an office that had all of the lights on and it’s difficult to see but the clock on the wall says it’s about eight or nine minutes after five PM. We found several other rooms similarly lit up. Likewise, there was another room with a computer still on. Dangerous? Uninhabitable? C’mon.

Returning the following day, around noon on Friday, we found two gentlemen working inside one of the classrooms! After identifying ourselves, we asked why they were in there if the building was unsafe to be occupied as stated by Dr Chase to the School Board and the letter she subsequently sent out? They said they didn’t know about that, but they were just following orders from their boss to remove equipment. When asked if they believed their boss had their safety in mind when according to Dr Chase the building is unsafe for children and staff, they reiterated they were following orders. Perhaps a visit by PESH* is in order?

The information provided to Dr Chase and Mary O’Neill from CSARCH only addressed four supposed hazardous conditions. After the way taxpayers were treated by Dr Chase and the Board with the $114 million Bond initiative they were pushing, we believe they may be sensationalizing the gravity of the structural issues. There is nothing in the CSARCH report indicating that the entire building is unsafe for habitation. Their recommendation regarding the classrooms was to remove part of the acoustic ceiling tile ceiling so that the plaster ceiling on the other side could be inspected. The exterior issues could be quickly addressed by closing off the stairs to the playground to allow for repairs and entering from a different place. Was there a verbal communication that differs from the memorandum as written? Is this information “different” from the original 2015 Building Condition Survey?

We believe the reason the issues in the Mansion were brought up now is as a strategic move by Dr Chase and a select group of the School Board members in order to to revive the never-dead-never-ending consolidation bond once again. They’ve been setting all of their ducks in a row to get to this point.

Dr Chase mentioned the company Thought Exchange (.com) during the last School Board meeting. They are a well-known company whose job is to create surveys for a school district and formulate a plan(s) to get bonds approved in school districts. This company has been discussed before by the Board and the company even held a webinar with the Board.

Bringing up Thought Exchange and making an announcement about an unfit building both coincide with the renewal of the contract for a Public Relations company, making us incredibly suspect about ulterior motives. Watch your mailboxes for a letter that should arrive on Tuesday or so from the Superintendent reiterating all of this. If our suspicion proves out to be true, shame on all of them. If we allow this bond referendum to happen again, shame on us. The taxpayers must clean house and get this school district back on track! We have to do it for the kids and it’ll make for A Better Greenburgh School District.

* PESH (Public Employee Safety & Health) is the public sector equivalent of OSHA.

Greenburgh School Mansion To Close, Unfit For Occupancy

In a stunning change of direction, it was announced at last night’s Board of Education meeting that the “Mansion” as it’s referred to on the Warburg campus, was not structurally sound and should not have anyone working in it. According to Dr Chase, this was just brought to her attention late yesterday afternoon and the mansion would be not occupied today. But we’ve been told that they are still using the building. So is it not that bad or is it? What’s the truth? When asked at last evenings meeting if she had shared the condition information with anyone else, Dr Chase answered she had not. So, after the Bond vote in March, and the stunning 2-to-1 defeat, the Board and Dr Chase all said they needed to do a better job of communicating with the electorate. They’re not off to a good start.

Rumors abound about the district. We heard after the bond vote in March that the Board was positioning itself to do another consolidation bond vote. Dr Chase mentioned the company Thought Exchange (.com) during last night’s meeting. They are a well-known company whose job is to create surveys for a school district and formulate a plan(s) to get bonds approved in school districts. This company has been discussed before by the Board and even held a webinar with the Board. So bringing up Thought Exchange and making an announcement about an unfit building coincides with the renewal of the contract and associated fee increase that was on the original agenda for a Public Relations company, making us wonder what else might be going on?

It was said that CS Arch architectural firm will provide an estimate for the repair work required for the mansion. This building was included in the 2016 Buildings Condition Survey which reported that it required $6.8 million in repairs. Why was this not announced or reported on sooner or during the Bond Road show while we were being told about the poor conditions of the other buildings? It seemed as though anything that could possibly need a repair was thrown on the list. Except the mansion.

Our understanding is that there are about 28 (or so) employees in the building. They will no doubt be relocating those employees from the mansion elsewhere. There are three  classrooms of early childhood program children that will need to be relocated. It is thought that they will go to the Lee F Jackson school at the start of the school year.

The nagging question for us is the timing of all of this?

If there are structural issues at the mansion, let's certainly get them fixed. Ultimately, however, it's our fault for allowing the Board to operate the way they have for these past many years. We seem to keep coming back to the same questions that were repeatedly asked during the Bond Roadshow: Why were these needed repairs ignored and how much more will this now cost us due to the Boards negligence? The public deserves better and should demand better. But if we do, it's also up to us to follow up to ensure they follow what the community mandates. It will make for A Better Greenburgh School District.

Special School Board Meeting and Executive Session Slight of Hand

The Greenburgh Central School District's  Board of Education has posted a special meeting for this Wednesday night, Aug 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mansion. Below is the agenda that should be discussed. Interestingly, at the end of it is a raise for the public relations firm the District has hired which begs the question why does the district need a public relations firm?

ABG highly suspects there are additional bond-related discussions that will occur based upon the facilities tour that was given this week. The severe physical deficiencies of the buildings and grounds were highlighted even though a few positive things were as well. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated. 

On a problematic note, the Board is expected to adjourn to executive session immediately after opening the meeting at 6:30. We have written about the obfuscation of information from this Board in the past. They apparently are still failing to recognize the $114 million bond being defeated months ago due to their glaring inefficiencies and false information presented to the public, is that the taxpayers expect, deserve and were promised openness. This is not how to go about rebuilding the trust they need to restore. There is nothing on the agenda that would indicate the need for an executive session.

What should be happening is that the meeting should open as usual and the agenda addressed with the public encouraged to speak and engage in dialog with their elected Board members. THIS is the place for that to happen. At the end of the evening, IF there is a reason to go into executive session, that reason should be clearly communicated and then they adjourn. They should not be forcing the residents/taxpayers to wait an undisclosed amount of time for the meeting to resume. Simply, this tact is just wrong.

Tanya Drajic and Ashley Pineda were recently elected to the School Board as its newest members and Lloyd Newland removed. The clear reason is that the public trust has eroded over time. David Warner, barely successful in being re-elected, said (we’re paraphrasing) that they have learned from this election and the bond defeat that we have to listen better and be more open with information. Tag David, you're it.

Several others on the School Board remained silent during the bond referendum fiasco, afraid that it would hurt constituents but also too afraid to publicly comment against it. Perhaps it's time for these people to vacate the positions and let some fresh thinking new Board members effect change without emptying the taxpayer's bank accounts. 

Finally, long-time Board member Terry Williams utilized his Board of Education email account and the Board's email list to push the Bond Referendum through emails because this was his vision. Advertising and pushing his vision is a blatant violation of the rules and laws he and all Board members are required to follow. Has there been any consequence after his mea culpa excuse? Doubtful. This disregard of the rules should not go unanswered nor unpunished.

Come to the Wednesday night meeting and tell them how you feel - after they waste your time going into executive session and leaving us in the lurch. It’s the only way to get A Better Greenburgh School Board. 

Agenda:

Bd of Ed Agenda- Wed Aug 28

Rescissions

Ashley Cruz- ECP Special Ed (declined appt)

Wesley Marshall- Soccer Coach (declined appt)

Teshaun Mondello, RN (decined appt)

Resignations

Danielle Berard- Special Ed ECP

Wesley Marshall- Special Ed Woodlands

Maria Walsh- science Woodlands

Jahneen Woodbury- ECP; transitioning to new position at ECP

Danielle Nash RN – Lee Jackson

Appointments

Sharon Harris- Music RJBailey

Stefanie Vataj- Special Ed ECP – to replace Danielle Berard

Jahneen Woodbury- Elementary ECP

Childcare Providers

·       Paulette Lambertson

·       Constance Rios

Regents Proctors- Aug 13-15, 2019

·       Jennifer Belfiore

·       Holly Gant Jones

·       Steven Rounds

Summer Guidance counselors- July1-Aug 27, 2019

·       Carolyne Almonte

·       Roberto Dominguez

·       Joe Foy II

·       Holy Grant Jones

Technology Support

·       Jonathan Lewis

·       William McLee

Substitute Monitors Woodlands/Elementary

·       Bryan Bencosme

·       Tyeisha Robinson

·       Thomas Wilson

Leave

Daphne Tone- Security Aide

Status Change

·       Fernando Santos- Security Officer Highview:Provisional to Probationary

·       Douglas Scarinci- Security Officer RJBailey: provisional to probationary

·       Lynbeth Thomas- Security Aide RJBailey; provisional to probationary

RFP

Concordant Communications- Public Relations  $50,579 (increase from $47,351 spent in 2018-19 school  year)

5-Year Struck By Car In Elmsford

Saturday evening found emergency responders from the Elmsford Police and Fire Departments responding to an emergency call that a 5-year boy was struck by a car on South Lawn Avenue.

The all-volunteer Elmsford Fire Department responded to the scene with a fire engine and their ambulance. Many fire departments in the area operate ambulances within their community. Reports came in to responders that the injured boy was unresponsive. Apparently, he would go in and out of consciousness. While he was conscious he could be heard crying.

A suspect was arrested for the crime for operating a vehicle without a license, fleeing the scene, and possibly more. A neighbor reportedly saw a black 1994 or 1995 Mustang 5.0 racing up and down the street earlier. It's unknown if this vehicle was the one that struck the boy, who was transported to the Westchester County Medical Center.