Schools

Sleepy Hollow sophomore Timothy Frankstone has been awarded a highly competitive and prestigious internship at the Mianus River Gorge. He is one of four New York State high school students to be selected to intern for the Wildlife Technician Program.

The Wildlife Technician Program offers high school students the opportunity to undertake a three-year research project in the natural sciences.

Students in the program typically presenet their research at local and statewide competitions, such as Intel Science and Engineering Fair and the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

The Irvington Board of Education and the Irvington Faculty Association (IFA) ended nearly three years of collective bargaining in January by reaching an agreement on a seven-year contract.

The contract, retroactive from July 1, 2009, freezes salaries for the first four years and includes 1.75% increases for the last three years. Employee contributions for health insurance will rise from 10% to 15%.

In a joint statement, both parties said the agreement provides “a fair and equitable deal” for the IFA membership and a fiscally responsible contract for the taxpayers of the community, while maintaining quality educational programs for students.  more »

Attempting to shed the state’s negative label of a “District In Need of Improvement,” the Tarrytown School District has begun a series of initiatives that will include administrators, teachers and parents.

While the district is moving to improve its status, questions are being raised at both the federal and the state level about the fairness of the designation for some school systems.  more »

Several residents expressed their concerns about student performance during the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns Board of Education meeting in early November. The residents spoke about the potential federal designation as a “school district in need of improvement” under the No Child Left Behind Act.

“No one is happy about the need of improvement designation,” Board of Education President B. Joseph Lillis said.  more »

With the likelihood of the district being tagged with a “district in need of improvement” by the state Education Department, Tarrytown Union Free School District officials will be presenting the Annual Student Performances Report November 3 at the Administration Building.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Howard Smith said the detailed report will address test scores for students in grades three through high school and attempt to put “in context” what being labeled a “district in need of improvement” means.  more »

Sleepy Hollow Middle School’s nationally acclaimed Environmental Action Club has done it again—using science to carry an idea from its inception to conclusion that will benefit all of Westchester County. With national recognition from the National Wildlife Federation for its efforts to replace plastic shopping bags with reusable canvas, science teacher Mike Garguilo’s 35 students have now erected a bird observation post on the Old Croton Aqueduct behind the school, where all residents can enjoy watching a plethora of birds around a vernal pool. But how this remarkable club created a new destination in Tarrytown with little more than the scientific method is a story in itself.

1. Ask a Question  more »

For several Sleepy Hollow High School students, this past summer was more than a time to linger in a hammock, get a few rays at the beach or to catch the latest summer blockbuster.

Instead, the students traveled outside of the area to further explore their future interests, whether that is a career choice or where to attend college.

Sarah Rennert

One student went as far away as Israel to pursue here interests in Jewish culture and politics. Sarah Rennert said one of the reasons she chose to spend some of her summer in Israel was because she wanted to “connect with my heritage”

“I loved it,” she said.  more »

Sometimes a teacher can inspire a class and sometimes it’s the other way around. But for Sleepy Hollow Middle School’s Environmental Action Club, (EAC) it’s a two-way green street. Federated Conservationists of Westchester recently gave the club its prestigious Edith J. Read Award for environmental achievement.  more »

Students in the Irvington School District in grades 3-8 far exceeded the state and countywide averages on the New York State math and English Language Arts (ELA) exams taken in May.

At Dows Lane School, 82% of third graders met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standards in math, meaning they scored at Level 3 or 4. In ELA, 76% of third graders reached those levels.

In Westchester, 70% of students who took the exams met or exceeded the standards in math and 63% in ELA. Statewide, 63% of students met the math criteria and 53% met the ELA criteria.

The scores were equally as impressive at Main Street School, where 89.3% of fourth graders and 92.4% of fifth graders smashed the math standards, and 90% of fourth graders and 80.6% of fifth graders dominated ELA.  more »

A former Ossining Superintendent of Schools who supported the controversial elimination of the high school’s cherished American Indian mascot was named the interim replacement for retiring Irvington Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Matusiak.

Dr. Robert Roelle, who resigned in February as Superintendent of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District in South Salem, citing the inability to provide that district with a “long-term commitment,” was appointed by the Irvington Board of Education on August 15. His term runs until June 30, 2012 and he will be paid $222,083. Matusiak, who led Irvington for seven years, retired with a salary of $256,965.  more »

A new state law to cap local and school property taxes has been viewed by some as one of the signature achievements of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s first six months in office.

However, while the new law to cap taxes by two percent or the inflation rate, whichever is lower, may be a political victory for the new governor, local village managers and school administrators warned the cap would put pressure on already strapped budgets and the cap could force layoffs and/or service cuts.

Sleepy Hollow Village Manager Anthony Giaccio said the tax cap is related to the general fund, not such other funds as the water fund, which is paid through fees rather than property taxes.  more »

The cutting of the Morse after-school program after 23 years continues to be a hotly debated topic. The contoversy erupted at a trustee work session again last month when it was brought up by Deputy Mayor Thomas Caposella. A heated debate between Recreation Department Supervisor Robin Pell and certain trustees ensued for nearly an hour.

“Why does this have to be an argument?” Pell said during an exchange with Trustee David Schroedel. “We’re trying to get past this problem to make it a working program for the people of this community, or not.”  more »

Children’s voices rang out through a section of the Tappan Hill School this past month, giving life to the Tarrytown structure that had been closed last year by the school system to help tighten expenses. The very young children with their parents were there in July, with their young children, for events introducing them to the new Waldorf Early Childhood Center, which opens in September.

Wooden toys and silk curtains turned two classrooms into an environment matching the Waldorf standard of using materials from nature. Parents learned from the Waldorf teachers and representatives in attendance about the approach the school takes to education..  more »

Irvington Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Matusiak maintained it was her decision to retire and had nothing to do with a recent performance review that will be removed from her personnel file.

“This was my decision. I went to the board,” Matusiak said. “My husband and I have been talking about this since the fall. It’s been a challenging year for a number of reasons and after a lot of reflection with my family I just felt it was time.”  more »

When asked about a notable graduate from the Class of 2011, Irvington High School Principal Dr. Scott Mosenthal had no hesitations. Isabel “Izzy” Garcia was the first person that came to mind, predicting she is going to be “the future president of the United States.”

As a member of the Model UN, Drama Club, and as the president of the Student Council, Garcia stayed involved in the school way beyond the classes. “I loved my time at Irvington. It was a very mutual relationship: the school gave me a lot, and I gave a lot back,” Garcia said about her high school.  more »

When the 2011-2012 school year starts in September, there’ll be someone new roaming the halls at Dows Lane Elementary School – and from day one he has to report to the principal’s office.

Randy Lichtenwalner, current assistant principal at Washington Irving Elementary School in Tarrytown until the end of this month, will take the Dows Lane helm, starting in July.

“Randy is a gifted educator and we have been pleased to help him get his start in school administration,” said Tarrytown Superintendent of Schools Dr. Howard Smith. “He is both extremely knowledgeable as a professional in the areas of curriculum and instruction and very warm and compassionate as a person.”  more »

Voters in the Tarrytown, Irvington and Pocantico Hills school districts comfortably approved budgets for the 2011-12 school year last month.

In Tarrytown, the $64.75 million budget passed 747 to 451. Residents also approved the purchase of two 20-passenger vans (789-376) and a mileage limitation for bus transportation for grades 3-5 (850-319).

The budget carries with it a 3.65% tax hike for Tarrytown residents and a 1.4% increase for Sleepy Hollow residents. On the Board of Education, incumbent trustees Katharine Swibold (653) and Sheila Conklin (625) defeated Ken Torosian (537).

In Irvington, the disputed $50.3 million budget, which raised spending less than one percent and included a 3.17% tax hike, passed 851 to 472.  more »

After a successful 23-year run, parents, students and teachers were outraged when Sleepy Hollow’s Village Board of Trustees voted last month in favor of cutting the Morse afterschool program from the 2012 budget, a move that will displace 40 children.

“The parents are outraged,” said Recreation Department Supervisor Robin Pell, who noted she didn’t learn about the cut until the meeting. “This is the worst thing you can do to a community. They should be thanking us for the program and instead they are cutting it.”  more »

Voters in the Tarrytown Union Free School District will be presented with a $64.7 million budget on May 17 that will increase taxes by an average of 2.7%.

With an increase in spending over this year’s budget of slightly more than 2%, Tarrytown residents will experience a 3.65% tax hike, while Sleepy Hollow residents will see a 1.44% tax jump.

The more than $1 million rise in spending was necessary, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Howard Smith, to compensate for increases in contractual salaries, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and utility costs.  more »

In a split vote, the Irvington Board of Education approved a $50.3 million budget that will increase taxes by 3.17% if it receives voter support on May 17.

The budget, which increases spending by .91% over this year’s ledger, received the blessing of board President John Dawson, Vice President Robyn Kerner and Trustee Robert Grados, but was given a thumbs down by trustees Robyne Camp and Jim McCann.  more »

Two candidates will be vying for one available seat on the Irvington Board of Education May 17.

Gordon Elliot, who has lived in the village more than 35 years, and Phil Whitney, a lifelong Irvington resident, are running for the seat being vacated by board Vice President Robyn Kerner.  more »

The $64,754,404 budget proposed by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Howard Smith and approved by the Board of Education increases spending by 1.23% over this year, resulting in an estimated tax rate increase of 3.65% for Tarrytown and 1.44 % for Sleepy Hollow. A loss of state aid contributes more than 2% to the 2.91 % average increase. The probable final budget that will be presented to voters May 17. A public hearing is set for May 5. Smith said the more than $1 million rise in spending was necessary to cover increases in contractual salaries, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, BOCES contributions and utility costs. To help balance the budget, the district is utilizing $900,000 from its reserve account.  more »

Teachers in Tarrytown have voted to turn back to the school district two days wages in the fiscal year 2011-12 in order to save as many as eight full time educational staff jobs and the Challenge program for grades 6-8. The Board of Education has adopted a $64.75 million budget and the teachers' action had been anticipated as part of it. The Teachers' Association action saves the district $260,000 and was made to "...avoid the elimination of positions that would ultimately affect our students," read a statement by the teachers. "After careful consideration, this association chose to move forward and act n a positive manner to share the sacrifice," the statement went on. "We felt it was important for us to do our part to help in these challenging times.  more »

In an effort to minimize projected tax increases, the proposed 2011-12 Irvington school budget sets out to cut teaching and administration positions, elementary classes, athletics and possibly arts programs. With the budget now passed from administration to the Board of Education, many feathers remain ruffled.

“I’m not on board with the budget proposed by the school administration,” said Irvington School Trustee Robyne Camp, who voted against this year’s budget. “It’s now up to the board to re-craft it and align it with what the community wants and is willing to pay for.”  more »

The second annual Main Street School Geography Bee taught students a life lesson far beyond what the teachers or the organizers of the event could have planned for.

As 160 students in the fourth and fifth grades at the Irvington elementary school tried out for 25 seats on stage in the Geography Bee, the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.

“It came at a time that we never could have anticipated with the situation in Japan,” school Principal Dr. Raina Kor said at the start of the March 18 competition.  more »

Tarrytown Schools Facing 6%
Tax Increase Without Cuts
In an interview with The Hudson Independent, Superintendent Howard Smith said that he hopes to utilize comments from a village meeting February 17 to determine priorities on how to close a $2.9 million budget gap in next year’s spending plan. Because every 1% increase in the tax levy generates $500,000, keeping all of the cost would require a 6% increase in school taxes.

Smith said the gap would have been greater, except for $460,000 in special federal funding the district put away last year to save jobs. In addition, amortizing retirement benefits over multiple years saved $230,000. By deferring long term financing for capital borrowing, the district was able to reduce its interest costs from 4.7% to 0.6%.  more »

Lobbied hard by First Lady Michelle Obama, Congress approved the Child Nutrition Act in December aimed at expanding school lunch programs across the nation by improving the quality of school lunches, specifically the inclusion of more fruits and vegetables.

While the roughly $4.5 billion price tag will be funded by a drastic cut in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as food stamps, the First Lady said she was “thrilled” with the 264 to 157 House vote. The Senate unanimously passed it in August, and President Barack Obama signed the bill 10 days after passage in the House.  more »

With the diction and ease that reminded listeners of his famous father, New York State’s newest governor, Andrew Cuomo, rallied elected officials and constituents during his State of the State Address last month. Even those who are facing daunting economic and social issues couldn’t help but listen intently.  more »

Tarrytown has joined the chorus of other municipalities and school districts objecting to property tax caps proposed by New York’s new governor, Andrew Cuomo, unless the state repeals its mandates that force increase costs on local governments and schools.

Cuomo’s tax cap would hold schools, local governments, including towns, counties, villages, and cities, other than New York, to an annual property tax increase of no more than a 2 %, or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. However, 60% of voters within a taxing entity could override the cap through a referendum.  more »

Little does Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo know how heavily his decisions will weigh upon the Tarrytown school district. Or maybe he does.

“We’re anticipating a reduction in state revenue because of the budget deficit,” said Howard Smith, Tarrytown schools superintendent. “It’s a variation on a theme in all districts across the state.”

It isn’t rocket science; however, it is math, and the numbers will be telling as Smith – and districts across the state – wait for Cuomo’s offerings in the way of state and tax cuts.

“We’ll have a better idea by the end of January and may formally present the budget by February,” he said. “A cut in state aid is an increase in property tax.”  more »