Thursday, December 06, 2007

NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN GREENBURGH

Greenburgh schools tap Southern Westchester BOCES chief as new superintendent

By REBECCA BAKER
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: December 6, 2007)
WHITE PLAINS - Ron Smalls has a lot of work ahead of him when he becomes superintendent of Greenburgh Central 7 schools next month.
The Spring Valley resident will grapple with the district's racial and ethnic achievement gap, an exodus of middle-class students after elementary school, and an erosion of public confidence that led to back-to-back budget failures this year.
But Smalls, the schools chief at the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services, welcomes the challenge.
"I see challenges as opportunity - opportunities to make a difference in the lives of a lot of children," he said. "This is a place where I saw there was a need."
The Board of Education hired the 61-year-old veteran school administrator on Tuesday night, approving a contract with a $225,000 annual salary and an additional $50,000 in benefits starting Jan. 2.
Smalls will meet the public at 8 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Woodlands High School cafeteria.
Sidney Freund, a retired Dobbs Ferry superintendent now serving as interim superintendent, will stay until Jan. 18 to help Smalls make the transition.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

225,000? Are yo kidding me? Is this a 5 year contract?

Anonymous said...

The school district is independent of the town government. Can't blame Feiner on this one. Blame one of his x-challengers Stephie Bellino, a member of the school Bd

Anonymous said...

Gee, $225,000... I wonder how they will measure success?

Anonymous said...

This present board has to go.

Anonymous said...

I thought they were not allowed to offer more than the prior years contract, plus the state cola adjustment, pursuant to the contingency budget rules. What are they going to do? Cut some janitors health insuarance?

Anonymous said...

WOODLANDS IS A ZOO !!!!

Good luck mr. superintendent!!

Anonymous said...

Is this the highest paid superindentent of all the school districts within the Town of Greenburgh? The town should NOT pay for fitness centers, sat study, etc at GC until they show they are willing to control their own costs.

Anonymous said...

The town does not pay for the fitness center.

Regardless, I wish people would understand what they pay for and why before spouting off.

I don't think paying a GC superintendent 1 meeeeelion dollars would make a damn difference so anything over 150K is a total waste.

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous 12/7 5:34 PM,

I am not a resident or taxpayer in this school district, but I am curious as to why you single out Ms. Bellino? What about Chuck Bronz and Cora Carey?

Anonymous said...

Get rid of all of them.
They have ben there too long and cannot see further than their nose.

Anonymous said...

Dear 4:45,

Indeed. Cora aka: blkangl (as know from her license plates), has no business on that board.

Anonymous said...

MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE TROUBLE MAKERS OUTSIDE THE BOARD SO HOW COULD THEY GIVE US GOOD SERVICE.OUT WITH ALL OF THEM.

Anonymous said...

Ok, 2:57 does the town pay for sat study courses for GC? Time to foggedaboutit

Anonymous said...

Dear 8:10,
The Greenburgh Summer Youth Achievement program, which consists of the SAT and college preparation course, is a three week program. I am recommending that the tuition for participants be $450 for a three week program. Campers who meet certain income criteria will be eligible for full tuition. The cost of this program is $57,850. However, tuition paid for by 12 campers, will bring the town contribution to $52,450. This program will be contracted out to Westchester RISE, founded by Sonja Brown, District Family Outreach and Information Coordinator for the Central 7 School district. We are working in partnership with WestchesterCommunity College. This initiative will be funded in the B budget and will be open to residents of unincorporated Greenburgh. However, if there are available openings we will accept residents who live in the villages provided that the full costs of the program are paid for.


Only 12 pay the fees. It needs to go or be totally funded by enrolled families.

Anonymous said...

Before we pay for the SAT, I would like to see a chart of what superindents in all the Greenburh school districts are paid.

Anonymous said...

Dear 12/9 8:09 AM,

The State Comptroller's office has clearly stated that it is ILLEGAL for a municipality to pay for educational programs. Period.

That's why school districts and "general" governmental entities are separate. Don't waste your time wishing for this. It would just be one more law suit.

Hopefully all members of the Town Board will take seriously their oaths of office to abide by the state constitution and its laws.

Anonymous said...

We already pay for their free education. When is it gonna STOP!!

Anonymous said...

EDUCTION AND FREE LUNCHES ALSO.