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ACROSS THE BOARD
June 2017
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 WPSBA Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Development, delivered a thought-provoking address about emotional health in our schools to a rapt audience of board members and superintendents at Crabtree's Kittle House on May 22nd. We also honored Stephen Jambor, WPSBA President and Judy Wiener, LHEC Director. |
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SAVE THE DATE
FALL REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT / BOARD DINNER
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Thursday. October 26, 2017
DoubleTree Hotel, Tarrytown
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Topic: Creating Competent, Cognizant, Citizens!
We will also celebrate Judy Wiener in honor of her retirement as LHEC Director
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NEGOTIATIONS & LEGAL ISSUES:
TRENDS, POLICIES, & PRACTICES
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Our pilot workshop was a big success!
Thank you to school district attorneys:
Candace Gomez
(Bond Schoeneck & King),
Emily Lucas
(Ingerman Smith),
Stephanie Roebuck
(Keane & Beane),
David Shaw
(Shaw, Perelson, May and Lambert), and
Stuart Waxman
(Thomas, Drohan, Waxman, Petigrow & Mayle)
for clarifying rece
nt negotiations trends and legal hot-button issues.
Topics Included: Regional Teachers Contract Negotiations Student Speech, DASA, Anti-Discrimination Practices & Policies Related to Police, CPS, & ICE Special Education Update Freedom of Information Law Newly Elected BOE Member Transition |
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ESSA COMMENTS - IT'S NOT TOO LATE
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The Board of Regents needs your input on NY State's
Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan!
Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia, Regent Johnson, and others were in Yonkers on June 5th to hear comments on the draft plan.
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You can still send your comments to SED via email until Friday, June 16th.
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In the Westchester-Putnam County Region:
We welcome 44 new Board of Education Members in 33 school districts!
Many thanks to the following board members who are ending their service:
George Holt (Ardsley UFSD), Steve Kastin (Ardsley UFSD), Andrew Bracco (Bedford CSD), Wendy Adler (Blind Brook-Rye UFSD), Alberta Kozma (Brewster CSD), Scott Dakin (Brewster CSD), Mary Giuffra (Bronxville UFSD), Adele Murray (Bronxville UFSD), Brett Summers (Byram Hills CSD), Heyam Nesheiwat (Carmel CSD), Karen Visser (Chappaqua CSD), Patrice Davidson (Croton-Harmon UFSD), Todd Freebern (Croton-Harmon UFSD), Anish Nanavaty (Edgemont UFSD), Carol McCullough (Garrison UFSD), Deborah Campbell (Greenburgh CSD), Gabrielle Lesser (Hastings-on-Hudson UFSD), Charles Thompson (Hendrick Hudson CSD), Phil Whitney (Irvington UFSD), Michael J. Sclafani (Mahopac CSD), Ann Lobue (Mamaroneck UFSD), Laurie Donato (Mount Pleasant CSD), Eric Schulze (Mount Pleasant CSD), Darthea Miller (Mount Vernon City SD), Omar McDowell (Mount Vernon City SD), Charmaine Fearon (Mount Vernon City SD), David Lacher (New Rochelle City SD), Chrissane M. Petrone (New Rochelle City SD), Carolyn Aversano (North Salem CSD), Steve Wardwell (Ossining UFSD), Richard Sullivan (Peekskill City SD), Douglas Glickert (Peekskill City SD), Lonnie H. Phillips (Pelham UFSD), Marrianne Gilland (Pelham UFSD), Peter Basha (Pocantico Hills CSD), Joan Waters Cusanelli (Pocantico Hills CSD), Robert Johnson (Port Chester-Rye UFSD), Rocco Germani (Rye Neck UFSD), Chadwick Olsen (Somers CSD), Linda Graffitti (Somers CSD), Katharine M. Swibold (Tarryto
wns UFSD
),
Stephen Pagnotta
(
Tuckahoe UFSD
)
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BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION COVERAGE
OR LACK THEREOF
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Letter to the Editor, Submitted by Lisa Davis, WPSBA Executive Director
(unpublished)
It was disappointing to note the lack of coverage of Westchester and Putnam school board elections in the Journal News/ lohud.com, our "regional" newspaper. School board members are locally elected officials who run in non-partisan elections and serve as unpaid volunteers. While your coverage of local school board elections has slowly eroded over time, this year it was virtually non-existent. No pre-election candidate information and no post-election results (sensationalist reporting not withstanding). Given the current focus on grassroots advocacy and local governance, and the increase in contested school board elections this year, we would have expected you to celebrate those who choose to run for local public office and serve their local community. Why post the budget vote data and ignore the very people who will have fiduciary responsibility for the school district? Our local communities care who is on the board of education and, as our regional newspaper, the Journal News/ lohud.com should feel a responsibility to inform the voters.
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SHOWCASE YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT
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Let's celebrate public education & our schools!
Let us know about a new district initiative or a great new program that has been implemented in your district so we can include it in our newsletter.
Help us plan by sending your ideas this summer to info@wpsba.org
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Handing off the Baton!
It has been a good solid run these past two years - which would sound immodest, were it not for the fact that there was a great supporting cast of people joining me in the effort! Having the opportunity to work with folks who share the mission and value of our Public School system has been most rewarding. Knowing that you will continue this work despite the track conditions, is very assuring.
In fact, you can't ask for more when it's time to hand off the baton.
You already have better than good fortune going for you; you have a steadfast belief in cherishing and supporting our most precious gift - our children. Take Care!
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NEW BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION
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Encourage Newly Elected Board Members to Attend: WPSBA's comprehensive introduction to school board service is designed to help newly elected board members navigate the transition.
Monday, June 19 --- 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm ---White Plains CSD, Education House
Contact our office to register
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NYS MANDATED GOVERNANCE SEMINAR
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Saturday, September 9, 2017
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
PNW BOCES
Governance Through a Regional Lens
Send your newly elected board members to complete the NYS mandated 6 hours of governance training at WPSBA's local seminar. Member District Cost $175 per person. Registration through District Clerks only.
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NEW WPSBA WEBSITE & 2017-18 CALENDAR
COMING SOON!
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
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