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Prentice and DiSarro Re-Elected President and Vice President of Garrison School Board
Outside entity considered to provide school's arts program
by Margaret Sternberg
During the July 3, 2007 Reorganization Meeting of the Garrison Board of Education, Trustees Anita Prentice and Fran DiSarro were unanimously re-elected to their respective positions as President and Vice President of the School Board for the third consecutive year.
The meeting also saw the approval of resolutions on annual appointments, annual designations and annual adoptions and approvals.
In an effort to expedite the evening, few of the annual appointments were specifically noted, with most being approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
Among the many appointments of the evening, the board appointed Diane Chaissan to two positions, one as District Treasurer, and the other as District Tax Collector. The school district's physician continues to be Peter Gergely. The Records Access/Records Management Officer is Elizabeth Clune, and Richard Timmons is the Chemical Hygiene Officer, School Pesticide Representative and the Asbestos Designee. Dina Mikulewicz is the district's Internal Claims Auditor.
One surprise announcement was the appointment of the law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, PC to handle all of the district's legal affairs. The firm replaces Donoghue Thomas Auslander and Drohan LLP, which had been handling the district's legal affairs for the past several years.
The Putnam County News and Recorder and The Journal News were named the district's official newspapers. Official bank depositories are Manufacturers & Traders (M&T) Bank, T.D. Banknorth and CLASS MBIA.
Superintendent Gloria Colucci is the district's Purchasing Agent, as well as the Certifier of Payrolls and the designated official to receive court notification regarding court proceedings involving students.
Trustee Diana Swinburne and President Prentice are the district's two representatives to the NYS School Boards Association ("NYSSBA",) and Trustee Carol McCullough is the legislative liaison to NYSSBA.
The Board also approved adopting all Board Policies in effect the prior year and Faithful Performance Blanket Bond Coverage for specific personnel. The Public Officers' Law was adopted and indemnifies and provides for defense obligations for the board and officers of the district.
The Board approved allowing the superintendent to approve line item budget transfer of any amount remaining within a budget category and budget transfers between budget categories up to $5,000, as prescribed by state regulations and board guidelines.
The Board then proceeded to its regular meeting during which the greater part of the meeting was devoted to discussion of a proposal to incorporate the Arts into the curriculum.
The Board received a proposal from Jim Cairl, Managing Director of The Mighty Theater at The Paramount Center for the Arts, who offered two options, both with an approach divided into four components, the first being laying the groundwork through an academic foundation that teaches the terminology, theories and other aspects of the theater. The second part would be a winter project, in which students put on their first project, with those who are not performing working behind the scenes in various production-related jobs. The third element would involve students receiving practical theatrical training, including studying movement, voice and theatrical fundamentals.
The final aspect is a spring project, a night of students performing their own works.
The program would involve all of the students in the school, and the cost is $9,418. One drawback to the program, Superintendent Colucci said, was "trading a year-long experience for a one-time musical performance." However, the proposal had received a positive response from the Arts in Education Committee and received an overall enthusiastic response from the board, who requested some refinements to the current proposals prior to a decision on whether to proceed.
There was no new information on the recent litigation between the district and St. Basil Academy. The next meeting of the Garrison Board of Education will be Wednesday, July 25, at 7pm.
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