Yorktown Board of Education Announces Changes to Proficiency Standards and Appoints New Personnel

The Yorktown Board of Education met on August 23, and quickly moved through business on the agenda.

They took a moment of silence for the armed forces and those in the community who have lost a loved one. They honor the memory of Brendan Frail, a 2008 YHS graduate who tragically died on August 22 after slipping and falling into the Croton Reservoir. His mother Diane Frail is a central office secretary.

"She will need our support," Superintendent Dr. Ralph Napolitano said. "Our prayers are with her."

He said Brendan was the "apple of her eye" and he would have had a great future ahead of him.

Napolitano also announced he was deeply saddened by the loss of Deborah K. Ladka. She leaves behind her husband Matthew Ladka, who is Mildred E. Strang Middle School teacher, and two young sons, ages 4 and 6.

The Superintendent also gave an updated on the summer work progress and improvements done to on the District. In Brookside, there are 26 classrooms that are being renovated, with an expected date of completion August 30. In Crompond, the parking lot is being modified with an anticipated date of completion August 27. There are also storm water improvements done on the high school and middle school campus. The purpose of the construction is to reduce flooding by restoring wetlands and ponds

"The work is beautiful," BOE President Jackie Carbone said of the improvements.

The board voted on and approved several matters on the agenda, including a motion to appoint Dr. Clifford Simonetti as school physician for the 2010-2011 school year. They also approved to dispose of obsolete equipment. In total, 436 pieces of equipment from the District would be recycled. That includes 172 desktops, 188 monitors, 37 printers, 4 projectors, 6 scanners, 2 switches, 1 fax machine, and 10 assorted miscellaneous pieces of machinery.

They approved the firm of Donahue Thomas Auslander & Drohan, LLP as special counsel at a rate of $210 per hour for legal services and $90 an hour for paralegal work, which would not exceed $10,000.

The District announced the State has decided to change proficiency standards after the curriculum was taught and the students had taken the tests.

"We'll respond to the challenge," Assistant Superintendent Florence O'Connor said.

Because of the changes, students could get lower scores, but that does not mean they are not learning, she said. The District plans to communicate the changes and new standards to parents.

The following people were appointed: Charis Courtemanche, elementary school teacher, Kathleen Finnegan, high school math teacher. Fall coaches are Angela Battista, Diane Tual, James Deans, Roger Santavicca, Jacob Thorp. Pupil personnel services teacher coordinator are: Valarie Epstein, Jen Strang, Laurie Kalinoski, Karen Profita. YHS teacher coordinator is Patrick Burke, and mentor coordinator is Tina Trainor. Janet Caselli was appointed to Secretary to the Chief School Officer, and Karli Wheeler was appointed as a public relations assistant. Vinzenza Woska was appointed to a senior office assistant to the office automates systems.

The following people resigned from the District: Janet Toto, special education teacher, resigned for personal matters, and Grace Imbriale, an elementary AIS teacher, found employment with another school district.

The first day of school is September 13.