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New York State Education Department

School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
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 …
College Of Saint Rose Shutting Down After 103 Years College Of Saint Rose Shutting Down After 103 Years
College Of Saint Rose Shutting Down After 103 Years After more than a century in operations, Albany’s College of Saint Rose is permanently closing amid mounting financial struggles. The school’s board of trustees voted Thursday, Nov. 30, to shut down the college at the end of the Spring 2024 semester. “It is with a heavy heart that the Board decided to close the college at the end of this academic year,” Board Chair Jeffrey Stone said.  "The Board determined that the College does not have the financial resources to operate for the full 2024-2025 academic year and therefore cannot remain a standalone institution.” It comes after years …
BOCES Names New Superintendent For Northern Westchester, Putnam BOCES Names New Superintendent For Northern Westchester, Putnam
Boces Names New Superintendent For Northern Westchester, Putnam The Board of the Putnam and Northern Westchester BOCES has named its next superintendent as the current one plans to retire.  Neil Boyle, who previously served as the organization's Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, will serve as the next District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of PNW BOCES, officials announced on Thursday, April 27.  Boyle will succeed James Ryan, who is retiring from the position this year.  Already having a long history with BOCES and other school districts in the area, Boyle has previously served as the coordinator …
NYU Finance Director Embezzled $3.5M To Fund Her Lavish Lifestyle, DA Says NYU Finance Director Embezzled $3.5M To Fund Her Lavish Lifestyle, DA Says
NYU Finance Director Embezzled $3.5M To Fund Her Lavish Lifestyle, DA Says A former director at New York University is being accused of embezzling millions in state funding and using much of the money to fund a lavish lifestyle at her home in Connecticut home, according to authorities. The six-year fraud by Fairfield County resident Cindy Tappe, age 57, of Westport, related to two NYU programs, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced this week. Tappe used her position as the director of finance and administration for NYU’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and Transformation of Schools to diver…
COVID-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic COVID-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic
Covid-19: NY Cancels January Regents Exams Due To Pandemic High school students in New York will be exempt from taking the January Regents exams due to the spike of fresh COVID-19 infections that have been threatening the entire state. The New York State Education Department announced on Tuesday, Dec. 21 that the exams have been canceled due to the surge of new COVID-19 cases, specifically those tied to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus. It marks the second straight year that the Education Department canceled the Regents exams due to the spread of COVID-19. “New York set a daunting record last week with more COVID-19 cases rep…
COVID-19: Some NY HS Sports, Including Football, May Be Canceled In High-Infection Rate Areas COVID-19: Some NY HS Sports, Including Football, May Be Canceled In High-Infection Rate Areas
Covid-19: Some NY HS Sports, Including Football, May Be Canceled In High-Infection Rate Areas New York State education officials are calling on school districts begin to prepare to potentially cancel high-risk sporting events where participants are not fully vaccinated in areas with high COVID-19 transmission. With the new school year less than a month away, the Education Department released its guidance on reopening schools, including how best to handle sports and extracurricular activities as variants of the virus continue to cause new infections to spike. Football, volleyball, and competitive cheer and dance are considered to be fall sports at a "higher risk," according to the st…
COVID-19: NY Cancels Next Scheduled Regents Exam Due To Pandemic COVID-19: NY Cancels Next Scheduled Regents Exam Due To Pandemic
Covid-19: NY Cancels Next Scheduled Regents Exam Due To Pandemic There will be no Regents exams for high school students in New York this January as the state continues combating the COVID-19 crisis. The New York State Education Department announced on Thursday, Nov. 5 that the ongoing pandemic has wiped out the chance of administering the Regents exams in January 2021. No decisions have been made yet regarding the June and August 2021 Regents exams, interim State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa announced. “Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been the health and wellbeing of our students and educators,” she said. “We determined the January Regen…
COVID-19: Hudson Valley School Closes After Positive Case, 22 Percent Of Staff Under Quarantine COVID-19: Hudson Valley School Closes After Positive Case, 22 Percent Of Staff Under Quarantine
Covid-19: Hudson Valley School Closes After Positive Case, 22 Percent Of Staff Under Quarantine There has been a new school closure due to a positive case of COVID-19 in the Hudson Valley. The school, in Sullivan County, is the George L. Cooke Elementary School, where a staff member tested COVID positive and several other staffers are in quarantine, the Monticello Central School District announced. The school has switched to remote instruction only for all of its students through Friday, Oct. 9, the district announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Related story - COVID-19: Westchester School District Pushes In-Person Learning Into November  The district and Su…
COVID-19: Poughkeepsie City School District To Start Year Remotely COVID-19: Poughkeepsie City School District To Start Year Remotely
Covid-19: Poughkeepsie City School District To Start Year Remotely The City of Poughkeepsie's Board of Education decided to conduct schooling remotely after 57.8 percent of surveyed parents reported that they would prefer their children learn from home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This was not an easy decision to make, but please know that it was made with the best interest of all of our students, teachers, staff and parents in mind," wrote Superintendent Eric J. Rosser in a letter to district parents.  "Additional factors that informed this decision include a great need to guarantee that the safety and health of students and staff will be prot…
COVID-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public COVID-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public
Covid-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public Guidelines sent to school districts when the formula that will be used to reopen schools across New York State was announced are now available for the general public. Under the formula, schools can reopen if the region is in Phase 4 and the daily COVID-19 infection rate is five percent or lower over a 14-day average. But if the regional infection rate is greater than nine percent using a seven-day average after Saturday, Aug. 1, schools will then have to close, in effect, "an emergency stop button," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in announcing the formula on Monday, July 13. The determination for …
COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says
Covid-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says With the state set to announce in less than a month plans for reopening schools in the fall, the New York State Teachers Union has offered guidance on how to best get students back in the classroom. NYSUT President Andy Pallotta released a statement following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing an official timeline for when a decision will be made on school reopening. COVID-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools The state will provide public guidelines from the New York State Education Department to districts on Monday, July 13, and school districts will have…
COVID-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools COVID-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools
Covid-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools New York State now has a timeline for announcing a decision on how to best potentially reopen schools in September amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During a news briefing on Wednesday, July 8  in Manhattan, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the state has set a deadline for making a final decision on whether how or if schools will open their doors in the fall. The state will provide public guidelines from the New York State Education Department to districts on Monday, July 13, and school districts will have to submit their proposed plans by Friday, July 31. Once distr…
COVID-19 'New Normal' For Schools: NY Finalizing Fall Options COVID-19 'New Normal' For Schools: NY Finalizing Fall Options
Covid-19 'New Normal' For Schools: NY Finalizing Fall Options When schools potentially reopen their doors for classes in New York come the fall, they could have a very different look for students and staff. The New York State Education Department and Board of Regents has launched a “school reopening task force” comprised of educators statewide as New York recovers from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that forced the state to transition to a “distance learning” model. Related story - COVID-19: Have Plans Ready For The 'New Normal,' Cuomo Tells NY School Districts That task force held its first meeting this week, on Monday, June 15, as i…
COVID-19: School Districts Given Deadline To Submit Reopening Plans To State COVID-19: School Districts Given Deadline To Submit Reopening Plans To State
Covid-19: School Districts Given Deadline To Submit Reopening Plans To State The clock is ticking for school districts in New York to figure out their plans on keeping students and staff safe if they reopen in the fall amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. State officials have mandated that school districts must have a plan in place that includes social distancing, hybrid learning options, and other intangibles if they plan to potentially reopen in September as New York recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some districts have even looked into testing students and staff for the virus upon their arrival at school buildings. The New York State Education Dep…
COVID-19: NY Finalizing Options For What Schools Will Look Like In Fall COVID-19: NY Finalizing Options For What Schools Will Look Like In Fall
Covid-19: NY Finalizing Options For What Schools Will Look Like In Fall When schools potentially reopen their doors for classes in New York come the fall, they could have a very different look for students and staff. The New York State Education Department and Board of Regents has launched a “school reopening task force” comprised of educators statewide as New York recovers from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that forced the state to transition to a “distance learning” model. Related story - COVID-19: Have Plans Ready For The 'New Normal,' Cuomo Tells NY School Districts That task force held its first meeting this week, on Monday, June 15, …
COVID-19: Guidelines Released For Summer HS Sports Workouts COVID-19: Guidelines Released For Summer HS Sports Workouts
Covid-19: Guidelines Released For Summer HS Sports Workouts Public schools in New York will be able to open up campuses later this summer for sports workouts, according to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force. The NYSPHSAA announced on Friday, June 12, that school campuses can be used for high school sports training in Phase 4, though official practices will not be permitted to start until Monday, Aug. 24. Workouts will resume once regions enter Phase 4 of their reopening plan under the mandates set provided by the state. If the mid-Hudson Valley and Long Island stay on track, they will…
COVID-19: 19 Members Of State's Reimagine Education Advisory Council Announced COVID-19: 19 Members Of State's Reimagine Education Advisory Council Announced
Covid-19: 19 Members Of State's Reimagine Education Advisory Council Announced A group of nearly two dozen top education leaders has been tabbed to help reimagine education in New York when the state is rid of COVID-19 and ready to begin reopening schools. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a panel of 19 experts, made up of educators, students, parents, and education leaders, to help districts reimagine schools as they prepare to reopen in the "new normal."  Cuomo said the advisory board will reimagine education “while protecting health and safety, how virtual learning can bridge the gap, and supplement face to face education when schools reopen.” The Council …
COVID-19: State Orders Schools To Cancel Spring Recess, Continue Remote Learning COVID-19: State Orders Schools To Cancel Spring Recess, Continue Remote Learning
Covid-19: State Orders Schools To Cancel Spring Recess, Continue Remote Learning School districts in New York have been instructed to forego traditional spring recess and continue distance learning as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to plague the state. With schools statewide shut down through at least Wednesday, April 15 due to the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order requiring that remote teaching continues to that date. The governor said that districts that fail to provide instruction on all weekdays through April 15, including scheduled vacation days, could potentially lose state aid. It is unclear what school districts will do rega…
COVID-19: School Staff Member In Westchester Tests Positive COVID-19: School Staff Member In Westchester Tests Positive
Covid-19: School Staff Member In Westchester Tests Positive A staff member at a Westchester school has tested positive for novel coronavirus. Bronxville Schools Superintendent Roy Montesano issued an alert to parents on Wednesday stating that a member of the staff at The Bronxville School tested positive for COVID-19. Montesano noted that the school has been closed since Friday, March 13, leaving nearly two weeks since anyone has been in group contact in the district. It was unclear whether the staff member was a faculty member, administrator or another employee at the school. “To help you respond to this situation, we note that school contact, ‘b…
COVID-19: All Schools In State Will Close For At Least Two Weeks, Cuomo Says COVID-19: All Schools In State Will Close For At Least Two Weeks, Cuomo Says
Covid-19: All Schools In State Will Close For At Least Two Weeks, Cuomo Says As the number of positive cases of the novel strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19) climbs, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that all schools statewide will be closed for a minimum of two weeks, and maybe more. During his daily news conference on the outbreak, on Monday, March 16, Cuomo announced he is working with the state Education Department to ensure that all schools are shut down to help curtail the rapid spread of COVID-19. Cuomo said that nearly 90 percent of New York Schools had already closed or had planned to close in the coming week. The order comes as those schools that remai…
Judith Johnson, Longtime Hudson Valley Educator, Dies Judith Johnson, Longtime Hudson Valley Educator, Dies
Judith Johnson, Longtime Hudson Valley Educator, Dies Former New York State Education Department Regent and prominent Hudson Valley educator Judith Johnson has died. During her career, Johnson, 80, spent time serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Education under President Bill Clinton and spent decades educating students in the Hudson Valley. Johnson spent 10 years as the Schools Superintendent in Peekskill, becoming the first African American to hold that post. She also took over at the helm in Mount Vernon in an interim position in 2012 as the district underwent wholesale changes and sought a permanent …
'Emergency Executive Action' To Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes In NY Announced By Cuomo 'Emergency Executive Action' To Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes In NY Announced By Cuomo
'Emergency Executive Action' To Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes In NY Announced By Cuomo An "emergency executive action" has been put in place to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in New York. The order will advance legislation aiming to eliminate "deceptive marketing practices of e-cigarettes to underage users and raises the purchasing age of e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 years old," Cuomo's office said in a statement announcing the move on Sunday, Sept. 15. The action comes after a sixth vaping-related death was announced on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Kansas. Cuomo directed State Police and the Department of Health to immediately partner to ramp up enforcement efforts again…
These Area School Districts Have Best-Paid Principals These Area School Districts Have Best-Paid Principals
These Area School Districts Have Best-Paid Principals Educators have among the most important jobs out there, helping to mold the minds of children, which is why the Hudson Valley is home to some of the most well-compensated principals in the state. A new study by Upstate New York determined that on average, principals and assistant principals earn an average of between $62,000 to approximately $170,000 annually, according to the New York State Education Department’s Personnel Master File. Other recent studies found that the median salary for New York State teachers range from $21,765 to $131,689, while administrators earn between approximatel…
State Assembly Grants Four Hudson Valley School Districts Waivers On Millions In Fines State Assembly Grants Four Hudson Valley School Districts Waivers On Millions In Fines
State Assembly Grants Four Hudson Valley School Districts Waivers On Millions In Fines Four Hudson Valley school districts may be spared from paying about $19 million in fines due to late paperwork on construction projects. The state Assembly gave its approval on Tuesday, June 4 to legislation freeing the Orange County school districts of Newburgh and Chester, as well as the Sullivan County school district in Monticello. They allegedly neglected to file final reports on building projects years ago. The state Senate previously approved the bills last month — and a separate bill to grant Roscoe School District the same penalty waiver in Sullivan County. The legislation now goe…
These Area School Districts Pay Administrators The Most These Area School Districts Pay Administrators The Most
These Area School Districts Pay Administrators The Most The Hudson Valley is home to some of New York’s finest schools, with some teachers and administrators earning among the top pay among educators in the state. A new study by Upstate New York determined that on average, administrators earn between $50,000 to more than $200,000 annually, according to the New York State Education Department’s Personnel Master File. A second study recently found that the median salaries for New York State teachers range from $21,765 to $131,689. The report only includes school districts that are considered “upstate” which is considered north of Westchester and…
Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students
Report: Westchester School District May Be Spending Millions On Improperly Registered Students A school district in Westchester may be spending millions of dollars to educate students that are improperly enrolled in the school by using false addresses, according to a report by CBS New York. Toward the end of the last school year, New Rochelle School District officials announced that they would be re-registering each of the district’s 10,700 students, though they were forced to amend their initial plan to give themselves “a more realistic timetable to complete the (task).” According to the CBS report, a consultant involved in the residency verification who has verified enrollment…
Hudson Valley Has One Of State's Three 'Essential Elements Schools' Hudson Valley Has One Of State's Three 'Essential Elements Schools'
Hudson Valley Has One Of State's Three 'Essential Elements Schools' Fieldstone Middle School in Thiells has been recognized by the state Education Department as an "Essential Elements School." Also making a longer list of "exemplary schools to watch," were South Orangetown Middle School in Blauvelt and Van Wyck Junior High in Wappingers Central School District. In collaboration with its New York Essential Elements to Watch partners, the state recognized three new schools as 2018 Essential Elements: Schools to Watch (EE-STW), according to Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. The designation is awarded to exceptional middle level schools that mee…
Investigate Schools Blocking Exits During Gun Safety Walkouts, Cuomo Says Investigate Schools Blocking Exits During Gun Safety Walkouts, Cuomo Says
Investigate Schools Blocking Exits During Gun Safety Walkouts, Cuomo Says Click here for a related story: Hudson Valley Students Stand Up, Speak Out On National Walkout Day Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle called on the New York State Education Department Commissioner to investigate public schools that blocked exits this week when students decided to walk out in memory of 17 students and teachers killed in the recent mass shooting at Parkvale, Fla. Cuomo asked the commissioner to direct schools to "cease unconstitutional disciplinary action against students and teachers who participated in (the) gun safety walkout." Cuomo issued the following open lette…