[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6674502,"mediaKeyId","2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13","parentId",2628157,"title","PTA council urges independent Meet‑the‑Candidates format; board approves consent agenda with one abstention","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2282000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13&start=2282&end=2282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13/thumbnail_2282000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6674502/New-York/PTA-council-urges-independent-MeettheCandidates-format-board-approves-consent-agenda-with-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674502-8989229ff422218997570d83f57dfde6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196756&Signature=GVuEO4oLzbDoIwOv8qyKFSVgaUaIo57-Yhi2zbJWsk~rrFaOc~uuItSPKQuquXEAJ4J9TjkyKe-xSjMiGywI4DvY1JJW2X-iq8QX-OP1VipcxEhaMO2VLP6eWAwVUyDN2dxVFvQi27TTmNPjTHvpEqUQd~7i~NdmbOGQoB23FWz~kAQMBKIX1fFLL~5BK-SoRUMxJetUH7PXTxJ2Tt3PriWkx7fuXxskyYr~NwvIrG-sR19wVm1uuFqyS9u3HYMCPNZqCRjIKK9Uw03ah~cfuzLOjCqE0geGK1lwu6OMAQDsNPIoX6x7pa9Jl~6UYIU~WA~eFw09SFhIba4Gda0Vng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","EASTCHESTER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-02-12T14:09:20.857Z","article","Several members of the public raised issues during the allotted public comment period.

Margaret Donnelly said the school food services vendor, SchoolDish, has not consistently listed ingredient and allergy information on the lunch menu this school year and asked the district to restore clear ingredient listings on the menu or website so families managing food allergies can make informed choices.

Kyla Murphy, president of the Eastchester PTA Council, read a statement objecting to the district's announced change to the date and format of the district's traditional Meet the Candidates event. Murphy said the PTA council was not consulted and expressed concerns that having district personnel collect and collate questions would create a \"perception of a lack of independence or a bias toward certain candidates.\" The PTA council said it will still encourage attendance and question submission but urged the district to \"look to ways to reduce conflicts of interest and bias whether real or perceived,\" and asked the district to provide an adequate security plan if the event remains in‑person and student moderators are involved.

Superintendent Valente and board members responded that the event will be administered by the district clerk, Lori Perata, and that debate‑club students will moderate under the clerk's oversight; the board said the district clerk is responsible for election procedures.

Other public commenters included Harmit (address recorded) urging continued emphasis on STEM momentum in district programs, and a parent, Abby Ruane, who raised concerns about a personnel policy (policy 09/1950 as referenced) that she said could be read to overly limit teachers' ability to provide nonacademic support to students; district staff replied that the policy is intended to require use of district‑approved platforms for student communications, not to prevent teachers from supporting students.

On the consent agenda the board approved a slate of routine items (personnel, special education recommendations, pupil personnel recommendations, business office recommendations, curriculum and instruction items, board policies and other business). Board member Jackie moved the consent agenda and Board member Sean seconded. A board member identified in the meeting as Lori registered an abstention when the board called for abstentions; no roll‑call yes/no totals were provided in the record.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Of Education Meeting 1/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","During public comments the PTA council objected to a district‑run Meet the Candidates format and asked for independent moderation and security plans for students; the board approved the consent agenda, with one board member recorded as abstaining.","taxTitle","EASTCHESTER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",55354,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6674508,"Eastchester board to interview finalists after districtwide superintendent search",172,407000,579000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13&start=407&end=579","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13/thumbnail_407000.jpg","/articles/6674508/New-York/Eastchester-board-to-interview-finalists-after-districtwide-superintendent-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674508-c59525251646335a9206f74d0bc0a07f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196756&Signature=lIBap9WCdBztQ7lukvxDM2FE8qqVeXnmQZ~ac8-bOj73nZiFlpyvUwHk6LCDXSwLMJix29Op2xTpgpMsOrUIdPalwZrSRJ0iMsCidVqkFz0RL8QHSYCYPgoEcK7y6MARWWpudMmLXwF2-TpYfMkMqP8R7p1XcrCa3J-80gWS6UqSgB~zD4ZG-b4~pT1L0bZuNlVkzaM81evVdcJrczxgU4uv-fvIJB9JfhL3RKIgcU4~gPT-sWkKFXv3bGB5mZPX-hVcGJ0ZxCSMW-Q0W9qD9-A2uDb~ezDftkjILz-eo7ox6qBP1Q~PqGm6ZHio1s6BC-xX2wbHE1H1oeObMhJMog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bob, representing the district's search firm, told the Board of Education that the superintendent search is nearly complete and that the board is ready to begin interviewing finalists.

\"We have interviewed, I wanna say north of 40 people,\" Bob said, and noted the firm held stakeholder forums, met with students, and ran a district survey that drew nearly 300 responses about the desired characteristics for the next superintendent.

Board members said the firm’s outreach and the size of the applicant pool suggest Eastchester is a desirable district. The board indicated building‑level administrators will be included in finalist interviews and that the full slate of candidate materials has been prepared for board review prior to interviews. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting on search finalists; the board plans interviews on the schedule provided by the search firm.

","The board's search firm reported a robust superintendent candidate pool and said finalists will be presented to the board for interviews following community forums and a survey of nearly 300 respondents.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6674512,"Eastchester schools propose pilot accelerated‑learning program for grades 2–5, contingent on budget",3303,682000,3985000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13&start=682&end=3985","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2628157-5f4da65a108b4ff35e42dbebbe687c13/thumbnail_682000.jpg","/articles/6674512/New-York/Eastchester-schools-propose-pilot-acceleratedlearning-program-for-grades-25-contingent-on-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674512-7ae52a9df0a0094e1269693a35701784/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196756&Signature=b08aIm2IvCAUUvurBspPEWV5NWZjRXfJ8FfzLTACkwtY~cuNqky5WBzdag7iV3mieZpZh~AkvgtGrXr~pULtlj~h~aDrEuVoC-3HsnEMLS~eiNuqHkgFICRt~Z0ZPv5kTcNYp-FypMC30LSatSGoVNG1i5PDeJEHhHU6F5Zc24inq3PTyBS9nqntaCa9SxbUIv~2EiwM0-N0dpDyDGZ-1EQcQdhntTYQEzBY4waxxkn94gDnfZ5nHVyZqsHwxge53WU8P-3VLzdxkfOZcD-8ARcOGFoUlCbmcrWFxUyIET54HZ~1AYTAfVXBSasQV28y5DBPwGASWrgUTX~qPon5Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Valente, superintendent of the Eastchester Union Free School District, told the school board that the district plans to pilot an Accelerated Learning Program for students in grades 2 through 5 beginning in September and anchored in the elementary WIN (What I Need) period.

The proposal calls for one full‑time teacher, certified in gifted and talented education, to work on a six‑day rotation between Anne Hutchinson (Ann Hutch) and Greenvale elementary schools and to serve up to about 80 students at each school (a maximum of roughly 20 per grade level). Students would attend a 60‑minute pullout during the WIN period for project‑based, interdisciplinary enrichment rather than additional drill in regular classroom subjects.

The district would identify candidates using existing NWEA achievement data and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). As presented, students considered for ALP would generally need to score at or above the 90th percentile on NWEA (ELA and/or math) and on the CogAT; the committee retained flexibility to adjust cutoffs if enrollment numbers or needs require it. Parents would have the option to opt out; the committee also will review parent requests to consider a child for the program.

\"We're looking to launch in September,\" Dr. Valente said, adding the program is \"data driven\" but that teacher input would be part of selection. Doctor William Meyer, the committee chair, said combining an ability score with achievement results would produce a more holistic identification: \"If the teacher's observing and working with your gifted and talented accelerated teacher and they agree, hey, this child is doing very well, is benefiting from it, this one experience is the right one, then we wouldn't have to retest that child.\"

Committee members said they expect the ALP to support districtwide instructional practices over time. \"If it was done and done well, it isn't going to just impact a specific group of learners. It should ripple out to the entire school community,\" said a member of the committee, describing plans to extend capstone projects and competitions such as Destination Imagination and Science Olympiad to broader student participation in later years.

The committee named for the pilot includes Doctor William Meyer (chair), Joanna Cenisi (Greenvale principal), Laura Capiello (Anne Hutch principal), Caitlin Mondelli (Waverly principal), Robert Jacoby (director of technology), and literacy coaches Maria Elena Barbuto, Christina Aron Conrad and Dana Orlando. The committee will also interview candidates for the ALP teacher and make a recommendation to the superintendent.

Staff said the program design favors a single, certified teacher to ensure a consistent curriculum and parent communication during the pilot. Superintendent Valente said the district could pursue broader faculty professional development instead of hiring immediately, but that training the whole faculty would take more time.

Budget and scheduling caveats were raised repeatedly. Valente said the district intends to remain under the 2% tax levy cap and is assuming no increase in state aid for planning purposes; he also warned that expected tuition revenue for special‑needs placements may be down \"about $300,000–$400,000.\" He said the ALP teacher could be funded only \"if we satisfy our basic needs\" in the 2025–26 budget process. \"Program‑based and zero‑based budgeting\" approaches will guide decisions about whether the district can add the ALP teacher or pursue districtwide professional development instead.

Board members asked about reassessment, incoming students without local test scores, and parental waiver/opt‑in procedures. Valente said the CogAT would not necessarily be administered every year for students already in the program; the district will test incoming students with the NWEA and administer the CogAT on entry as needed to inform placement. \"Parents have the right to waive their children out,\" Valente said of the pilot.

Actionable next steps the district outlined: the committee will finalize selection criteria, identify candidates in spring assessment windows, interview and recommend the ALP teacher, and present budget implications during the February budget conversations. The superintendent and committee emphasized the program is a pilot and that many design details remain subject to committee judgment and budget approval.

Votes at this meeting and other agenda items were handled separately; the ALP presentation itself did not include a board vote. The district plans additional follow‑up and community communication as the committee completes its work.

","District leaders presented a plan to launch a pilot Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in the WIN period at Anne Hutchinson and Greenvale elementary schools beginning in September, including identification criteria, staffing, and budget caveats.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

PTA council urges independent Meet‑the‑Candidates format; board approves consent agenda with one abstention

Eastchester board to interview finalists after districtwide superintendent search

Eastchester schools propose pilot accelerated‑learning program for grades 2–5, contingent on budget