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Parent raises concern about planned reassignment of MAS child psychologist; superintendent offers follow-up
Summary
During public comment at the White Plains Board meeting June 9, a MAS parent urged the district to reconsider moving a long-term child psychologist from MAS to George Washington, citing the impact on students with IEPs and requesting bilingual coverage instead of displacement.
At the White Plains City School District Board of Education meeting on June 9, a parent of a MAS student urged the district to reconsider a reported reassignment of a child psychologist who has worked with students at MAS for several years.
Renny Valentin, who identified himself as a parent of a student at MAS, told the board he learned that the psychologist who has supported his son would be reassigned to a different school next year. "These kids develop a relationship with these child psychologists, and I don't want my son to go through what he went through after the first grade," Valentin said, arguing continuity matters for students with IEPs. He said he supports greater bilingual staffing but asked the district to add a bilingual psychologist rather than moving existing clinicians whose relationships with students are well established.
Valentin also said he understood the district's equity objectives but was concerned a move would "devastate" children who have built trust with their current psychologist. He asked the board to reconsider or to identify an alternative approach that preserves established relationships while addressing bilingual needs.
Superintendent Dr. Brady acknowledged Valentin's comments from the dais and offered to follow up personally. "I responded to you and hopefully we'll be able to connect if you want to talk tomorrow or whenever it's good for you," Dr. Brady said. The superintendent's response in the meeting audio invited further conversation and did not announce any immediate personnel changes or board action. No formal board vote or personnel action on the reassignment was recorded during the meeting.
The transcript also referenced a clinician named "Dr. Martouche" at MAS and noted the district's intent to address bilingual needs; however, the meeting record did not include a formal staffing motion or timeline during the June 9 meeting. The superintendent invited the parent to meet with district staff to discuss the concern and next steps.
