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Votes at a glance: Board approves personnel actions, MOA, pay and donations at July 1 meeting
Summary
The White Plains Board approved multiple action items on July 1, including a memorandum of agreement with administrators, the retirement of Assistant Superintendent Deborah Algarten, pay increases for substitute clerical staff, extensions of paid leave under CSEA contract for two employees, and several appointments and donations.
At its July 1 meeting the White Plains City School District Board approved a series of action items in a single set of individual and consent agenda votes. The board recorded motions and carried the following items (motions are described as stated in the meeting):
- Memorandum of Agreement with the Administrators and Supervisors Association of the White Plains City School District, effective July 1, 2025 — motion moved and seconded and approved.
- Resignation for the purpose of retirement of Deborah (Debbie) Algarten, assistant superintendent for special education and pupil services, effective close of business Aug. 11, 2025 — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- Amendment to the inventory of positions for languages other than English/world language and business courses (district staffing change, budget-neutral) — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- First reading of the district's cell phone / internet-enabled device policy (required by New York State law); the board opened the first reading and accepted public/stakeholder comments for further policy work (no final vote; first reading only).
- Increase in the rate of pay for substitute clerical staff districtwide to $22 per hour, effective July 1 — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- Request for extension of paid period of absence under the CSEA contract for two employees (employee ID references given in backup) beyond 30 days due to line-of-duty accidents — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- Amendment to the policy for non-represented employees, effective July 1 — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- Authorization for the board president to execute employment agreements and amendments to employment agreements (motion moved, seconded and approved).
- Appointment of Michelle Schoenfeld for Special Projects, districtwide, for the 2025-26 school year — motion moved, seconded and approved.
- Approval of donations and local scholarships: a $30,000 Rafaelo Pantanelli scholarship fund from John and Sonia Pantanelli (to be awarded in 2025 in six $5,000 awards), a $5,000 donation from Mamaroneck Avenue School Nature Club to the Mamaroneck Avenue School, several smaller donations to memorial scholarship funds, and an instrument donation (violin with case, bow and shoulder rest) to the White Plains High School music department. The board moved, seconded and approved acceptance of these donations.
The motions were presented as routine individual action items or part of the consent agenda; the transcript records board members calling for "All in favor? Aye," and the items carried as presented. Where a motion was introduced as a first reading only (the cell phone/device policy), further board action and implementation steps were signaled for future meetings.
Why this matters: these votes authorize administrative agreements, staffing changes, retirement and personnel appointments, pay adjustments and acceptance of community donations. The retirement of a senior administrator and the MOA affect district operations and human-resources planning; the cell phone policy first reading implements a new statewide requirement.
