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Wednesday, sep 11
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district. The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …
Schools
County Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras In Hudson Valley
A Hudson Valley county is ensuring drivers are fined for not stopping for a stopped school bus by installing new stop-arm cameras. Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that stop-arm cameras have been installed on nearly all school buses countywide in time for the 2024 school year. “These cameras will automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, capturing crucial evidence that will be used to enforce traffic laws and hold offenders accountable,” explained Day. “But this program is not about enforcement; it’s about saving lives, and n…
Schools
School District In Putnam Latest To Ban Students' Cell Phones
Students in another Hudson Valley school district will be forced to look up from their phone screens, as officials will be requiring them to lock up their devices for the entire day. In its end-of-summer newsletter, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County announced that it will no longer allow cell phone use during the instructional day between 8:25 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. During this time, students will have to store their devices in lockers and keep them powered down or in silent mode. More information about the policy will be contained in the district's updated&nb…
Schools
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Hudson Valley School
A funny thing happened at a Hudson Valley high school last year when students were required to lock up their cell phones during the day—it worked, and now the middle school is joining the club. Poughkeepsie Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said the Yondr pouch program was launched in Dutchess County at Poughkeepsie High School in April. Rosser wrote in his school newsletter that the program has changed its culture and improved attendance and engagement since its inception. This fall, district officials are expanding the program to Poughkeepsie Middle School. “The su…
Schools
Club From Yorktown High School Wins National Championship
Only two years after it was first started, an aeronautics club from a Northern Westchester high school emerged victorious in a prestigious national competition. The Yorktown High School Aeronautics Club competed in the finals in the Beginner Division of the UAS4STEM competition held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from Monday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 24, school officials announced on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The club was one of only five teams of drone enthusiasts to qualify for the finals, which took place during AirVenture, an aviation celebration that garners over a half-million visitors …
Schools
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
Elected officials and community members are calling for a Hudson Valley school board member to step down following alleged antisemitic remarks made at a board meeting. The outrage was prompted following a school board meeting in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 9, when Carmel Central School District Trustee Jim Wise allegedly controversy within the town over a comment on the Israel-Hamas war. The statement in question, "From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free," was defended by Wise in a post on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 7. "I also reject absolutely the idea that …
Schools
Pair Of New Principals Named In Carmel School District
Two new principals will soon take the lead at two Hudson Valley schools. In an announcement on Thursday, July 25, the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County revealed that new principals were hired for both Kent Primary School and Kent Elementary School. Vincent Fino, the former Assistant Principal at Carmel High School, will take over at Kent Primary School. He replaces Dan Brown, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year, the district said. Meanwhile, John Fratto will be the next principal at Kent Elementary School and replace Michael Setaro, who will begin a new ro…
Schools
Superintendent Put On Administrative Leave In Northern Westchester
A Northern Westchester school district has appointed a new acting superintendent after putting its previous leader on administrative leave. The North Salem Central School District announced on Wednesday, July 24, that Superintendent Duncan Wilson had been placed on administrative leave. In his place, Adam VanDerStuyf was named Acting Superintendent on Monday, July 22, according to the school board. VanDerStuyf, who has been with the district since 2015, has held roles such as Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Se…
Schools
Cyberattack Hits School District In Hudson Valley
A school district in the Hudson Valley was the target of a cyberattack that disabled computer services and access to phones and email. In Orange County, the Goshen Central School District announced on Thursday, July 11, that it was the subject of the ransomware incident. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kurtis Kotes said the district notified law enforcement and is working with cyber security experts to determine the source of the attack and take the necessary steps to repair the problems as quickly as possible. In an update late Friday afternoon, July 12, Kotes said: "The disaster reco…
Schools
New Superintendent Takes Command At One Of Hudson Valley's Largest School Districts
An educator with decades of experience is following in the footsteps of her father and stepping up to lead a large Hudson Valley school district. On Monday, July 1, Erin Meehan-Fairben officially began her position as superintendent of Putnam County's Carmel Central School District, to which she holds deeply personal ties. A native of the area, Fairben was born in Putnam County Hospital and was raised within the Carmel community until she was around 5 years old. As a child, she used to play on the steps of Carmel's one-room schoolhouse as her father, Richard R. Meehan,…
Schools
New Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District
A Northern Westchester superintendent will soon transition to leading another nearby district in the county. In an announcement on Friday, June 14, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District revealed its next superintendent would be Raymond Blanch, who will be formally appointed in the role by the Board of Education on Thursday, June 20. Blanch, who has served as superintendent of the Somers Central School District since July 2010, will officially begin in his new role on Monday, July 15. Blanch's selection follows multiple rounds of interviews conducted by the school board in an ef…
Schools
Hudson Valley School To Close For Year
Delays from the state Department of Education have forced a Hudson Valley school district to close an elementary school for a year. The school, Fort Montgomery Elementary School, is located in Orange County. According to Superintendent of Schools Michael McElduff, the district submitted all required documentation for the extensive project review to the State Education Department. On Thursday, May 30, the district had not heard back from the state on the proposed improvement and much-needed upgrades for the school. "The district has been proactive in communicating with SED and h…
Schools
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…
Schools
New Assistant Superintendent Named At Northern Westchester School District
A Northern Westchester school district has selected a new assistant superintendent who will soon be leaving his current role at another municipality in the county. In an announcement on Thursday, May 23, the Hendrick Hudson Central School District revealed the appointment of Steven Garcia as its new Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development. Garcia, who currently serves as Executive Director for Human Resources & Leadership in the Pelham Public Schools, will begin his three-year probationary term with the Hendrick Hudson District on Mo…
Schools
How Sweet: NY Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl
Forget the apple; this distinguished New York teacher is getting a cookie party. Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Day, cookie chain Crumbl announced the winners of its “Teacher of the Year” awards, given to educators “for their extraordinary commitment to their classrooms.” In New York, the honor went to Monroe County teacher Dan Graf at State Road Elementary School in Webster. Recipients were selected from a pool of over 6,000 nominations that included testimonials from parents, students, colleagues, and friends. They were chosen from each state, the District of Columbi…
Schools
US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor
These students have a date with the president. Six graduating seniors from New York were among just 161 high school students across the country to be selected as a US Presidential Scholar, one of the nation’s highest honors for students. Established in 1964, the award recognizes distinguished seniors who have shown exceptional accomplishments in areas like academics, leadership, and service to their school and communities. The program was later expanded to include students in the visual, creative, and performing arts, and in career and technical education fields. In the Empire State, the…
Schools
School District In Westchester Taps New Superintendent: 'Honored, Humbled'
A current assistant superintendent in Westchester has accepted the top post at a nearby district, officials announced. In an announcement on Monday, May 13, the Irvington Union Free School District revealed it has selected Mara Ratesic as its new superintendent. Ratesic, who will begin in the position on Monday, July 1, will be formally appointed to the role during a special Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. The current Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at the Bronxville Union Free School District, Ratesic was chosen …
Schools
School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says
A school in Westchester County has announced it will cease operations at the end of the academic year. In an announcement on Wednesday, May 1, the Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of New York revealed the Transfiguration School in Tarrytown would close at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Officials attributed the decision to close the Catholic school to shifting demographics and lower enrollment, which have "significantly impacted" its ability to continue operating. The St. Simon Stock School in the Bronx will also close for similar reas…
Schools
School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District
After six years, a Hudson Valley superintendent has announced his upcoming move to a nearby district to remain closer to his family. Superintendent Phil Benante of Putnam County's Haldane Central School District announced on Tuesday, April 30 that he was appointed head of the Arlington Central School District in Dutchess County, according to a letter written to the district community. In his letter, Benante wrote that he chose to move to the Arlington district because it would allow him to work closer to his family. The Arlington district includes parts of Beekman, La Gran…
Schools
Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings
New York is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings of the nation's best high schools. The brand-new rankings were released Tuesday morning, April 23, and determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. The highest-ranked school outside New York City is on Long Island: Jericho, at No. 13 statewide and 104th nationally. The top-rated high school in Westchester County is Edgemont at No. 14 in the state and 128th in the nation, with Bronxville, at No. 16 in the state and 151st nationally. Another W…
Schools
These Westchester School Districts Named Best Communities For Music Education
Several school districts in Westchester and Putnam counties are being recognized as amongst the best in the entire nation for music education. A total of 10 school districts across both counties have been named winners of the Best Communities for Music Education Award for 2024 by the NAMM Foundation. These districts are some of only 975 across the country to receive the award, which recognizes "outstanding" efforts from teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who make sure students can include music as part of their education, according to th…
Schools
Garrison Union Free School District Taps New Superintendent
After an intense vetting process, a Hudson Valley school district has selected a new superintendent with more than two decades of leadership experience. In an announcement on Tuesday, April 9, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County revealed that Gregory Stowell was offered the position of superintendent. Stowell is expected to be officially appointed to the role at the next Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. Once he takes the district's helm, Stowell will replace Carl Albano, who officially retired from the role in September…
Schools
'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By Northern Westchester High School
Edie Falco, one of the stars of "The Sopranos," took some time to give some advice about acting and life to students during a visit to a Northern Westchester high school. In a 90-minute visit to John Jay High School in Cross River on Tuesday, March 19, Edie Falco, known for playing Carmela Soprano in "The Sopranos," spoke to over 100 students as part of the school's Social and Theoretical Criticism in the Serial Narrative elective. During the visit, which took place in the school's auditorium, Falco answered students' questions about her life and career and told the story of how …
Schools
Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage
A Hudson Valley school district has sparked outrage among residents by proposing a budget for the next year that contains at least $6 million in cuts, which could affect many student programs and teaching jobs. At a Board of Education meeting in Putnam County held on Tuesday night, March 12 at Carmel High School, countless community members spoke out about the budget, proposed by the Carmel Central School District for the 2023-2024 school year. According to district documents, the budget could include at least $6 million in cuts to teaching jobs, after-school programs, fie…
Schools
Jimmy Fallon Crashes NY College Party, Pokes Fun At Alma Mater's Impending Closure
Funnyman Jimmy Fallon ginned up plenty of online buzz after crashing a college party in upstate New York. The 49-year-old “Tonight Show” host and “Saturday Night Live” alum made a surprise appearance at what appears to be a frat party at a house near the UAlbany campus on Saturday, March 9. Video shared on TikTok shows dozens of students screaming with excitement while trying to snap selfies as Fallon is led through a crowd and into the residence. It was not immediately clear how long he stayed at the party. @victoriaspadaro Kegs & Eggs 🍀 #jimmyfallon #ualbany #upstateny #capital…
Schools
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found At School In Hudson Valley
The discovery of two swastikas on a high school wall in the region is being used as a learning experience regarding anti-Semitism. The swastikas were found in Dutchess County on Monday, March 4 at Rhinebeck High School, said the principal Edwin Davenport. Davenport, who happened to be in the classroom when the symbols of hate were discovered by another student, said he is investigating to find who may have drawn the symbols in chalk on a wall, but also immediately called out the action for what it was -- "It's evil, and will not be tolerated," Davenport said. It is not the first time …
Schools
Elementary School Student Walks Out Of Her Classroom, Building In Northern Westchester
A school district in Northern Westchester is implementing additional safety protocols after a young student was able to walk out of her classroom and leave the building, officials said. The incident happened on Monday afternoon, Feb. 5, when a student at Hawthorne Elementary School walked out of her classroom and then the building, Mount Pleasant Central School District Superintendent Peter Giarrizzo said in a letter to families on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Luckily, the girl was soon found and safely returned to the school by staff members, and Mount Pleasant Police, distinct offici…
Schools
US Presidential Scholar: Northern Westchester Student Named Candidate For Top Honor
A senior at a Northern Westchester high school has been nominated for one of the nation's highest honors for students. Daniel Ndocaj, a senior at Byram Hills High School in Armonk, has been selected as a candidate for the US Presidential Scholars Program, the Byram Hills Central School District announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The federal program, created in 1964, recognizes the country's most distinguished graduating seniors and is one of the nation's highest honors for a high school student. According to district officials, Ndocaj was one of the more than 5,000…
Schools
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays
A Connecticut school board's decision to remove two holidays that have traditionally given students a day off has sparked debate amongst community members, according to a report by ABC 7 New York. The controversy began in Fairfield County following the Stamford School Board's decision to remove Veterans Day and Columbus Day from their calendar, which means students will not have them off for the next two years, according to an ABC7 report from Friday, Jan. 26. Board members, who passed the decision in a 5-3 motion, have defended the decision by saying students should remain in s…
Schools
NY Easing Licensing Process For School Bus Drivers To Address 'Critical Shortage'
Leaders in New York are making it easier for people to become school bus drivers in an attempt to tackle a growing national shortage. The Department of Motor Vehicles has implemented a federal waiver allowing school bus driver applicants to skip the engine compartment component – known as the “under the hood” part – of the commercial driver license road test. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the move will make it easier to get a commercial license at a time when school bus drivers are “desperately needed.” “The job of transporting and caring for our children is so important, and the need for more dr…
Schools
Hudson Valley School District Vulnerable To Online Security Disruptions: Report
A new report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller has discovered a Hudson Valley school district is particularly vulnerable to online security disruptions. The report, issued earlier in January by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli following an audit performed by his office, found that the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County did not adequately secure its online network user accounts and has sensitive information technology control weaknesses. Additionally, the report found that the district's staff did not have sufficient guidance or plans i…
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