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)