Yorktown School District: Board of Education Focuses on Upcoming School Year

The Board of Education convened on July 6 in the cafeteria at Mildred E. Strang Middle School for their first session since the school year ended. While they passed numerous designations and were briefed on summer construction plans, the main focus of the evening was their annual organizational meeting.

"It's a school board regulation and a state regulation," explained Jackie Carbone, President of the Board of Education. "We have an annual election, sometimes new members come on board, and you have to swear them in and you have to reorganize."

The meeting began with administering the Oath of Office to Karen Corrado, Peter Bisaccia, and Thomas Donatelli as members of the Board of Education and to Dr. Ralph Napolitano as Superintendent of Schools. With all members sworn into office, the annual election for the President and Vice-President positions was called into order.

"Although we all have significant positions, the role of the president and vice-president are very important leadership roles and it's always good to see that settled," Dr. Ralph Napolitano said.

By unanimous decision, the trustees reinstated Jackie Carbone as President and Karen Corrado as Vice-President for another year.

The final re-appointments of the evening consisted of the oath being given to Rebecca Narvaez as District Clerk and to Kevin Liebertz serving again as District Treasurer.

The Board of Education was then briefed on the progress of construction around the district, including new playground equipment being put in at Mohansic Elementary School by July 23, followed by the same implementation at Brookside Elementary School and then at Crompond Elementary School.

The most important renovation being discussed was the Stormwater and Habitat Restoration around the Crompond Road campus of the high school and middle school. A presentation was given by Jerry Schwalbe of Divney Tung Schwalbe, who are overseeing the development of the project. The purpose of the construction, which will be completed by September 30, is to reduce flooding around the schools by restoring wetlands and dredging ponds.

Schwalbe explained the positive effects of the work including the removal of invasive plants, pond restoration, and the opportunity to conduct outdoor classroom research for courses focused on environmental studies.

A Wildlife Rescue Plan to coincide with the construction was then briefed by Megan Raymond of William Kenny Associates. She explained that this strategy included "the relocating of wildlife species to similar freshwater habitats downstream of the subject site."

The meeting ended with a discussion of the upcoming school year, with the superintendent giving his report to the Board on goals to move forward. This included improvements in education, fiscal planning, communications, facilities, and technology, all of which the Board agreed to aim for.

"From my perspective, it's important for the establishment of the goals because they really do set the blueprint for how we are going to move forward in the next school year," Dr. Napolitano said. "It really sets the stage and tone for the next school year, so that's really significant and very important."