Public comments raise concerns about insurance handling of basement flooding and employment of interim athletic director; residents praise music program
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Summary
Several residents used the public-comment period to report a delayed insurance response and unpaid invoices related to water damage in basements, to raise concerns about an interim athletic director appointment and ongoing pay, and to thank the district for supporting student performances at Carnegie Hall.
During the meeting’s public-comment period, resident Joseph Santa Maria described ongoing issues related to water damage in the basements of homes on Water Street and Stewart Place, saying he submitted three invoices totaling $12,083.82 to the district’s law firm and has not received a substantive response. Santa Maria said he provided requested documents and was later told a new insurance adjuster needed time to review the materials; he said nine weeks had elapsed without further contact.
Santa Maria also pressed for clarity on the timeline and characterization of an interim athletic director appointment, saying the appointment date on district postings conflicted with what he had previously reported; the board secretary agreed to a correction on the record. Santa Maria said the interim athletic director remained on payroll and that, as of May 1, the position would reach six months; a board member advised Santa Maria to contact the Westchester County district attorney's office for questions of potential legal concern and the district said staff would follow up on insurance matters.
Other public speakers praised the district’s arts programs: Erin Bonner and the middle-school singers were recognized for a Carnegie Hall performance; one resident, Lisonbee Reali, thanked the board for supporting the arts and called the performance “a once-in-a-lifetime experience” for students. Abigail Ruane urged that the upcoming community forum on the secondary schedule and student forums be two-way conversations where concerns raised by parents and students are addressed.
Board members reiterated meeting rules for public comment—a 30-minute block with a three-minute allotment per speaker—and referenced board policy 12:30-R and Robert’s Rules of Order as the basis for the time limits and decorum. The board offered to follow up with Santa Maria and directed staff to provide further information and contact points.
