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Pleasantville district staff outline summer personnel changes, posted safety plan and new website
Summary
A district staff member told the Pleasantville Union Free School District board the district posted a draft safety plan for a 30-day public review, will seek board approval in August, and listed multiple summer personnel moves including an assistant business manager appointment on tonight's agenda.
A district staff member gave the Pleasantville Union Free School District board a summer update, outlining staffing changes, strategic-planning work, a posted draft safety plan open for a 30-day public review and a newly launched district website. The staff member said the board will consider the appointment of an assistant business manager at tonight's meeting.
The speaker said several administrative changes are under way: following the retirement of John Chow, Donna Petrucci is now the district's business administrator, and Robin Dunn is the new district clerk. The speaker said the board has the opportunity tonight to approve Jonathan DeSanto as assistant business manager; Diane Carson is scheduled to retire at the end of the month. "We're ... quite busy still," the staff member said, describing ongoing summer work.
Other leadership transitions and summer projects include the upcoming retirement of facilities lead Steve Chamberlain in about one month and the assignment of John Rena to take over facilities. The speaker said Rena is already working on a districtwide building management system, removal of the old high-school oil tank and completion of blind replacement at BRS.
The speaker also announced that, after the retirement of Greg Fondy, Taryn Delaney has joined the administrative team as assistant principal at the high school and has been working with Joe Palumbo to close out the prior school year and prepare for the next. The district is continuing hiring to fill teacher, assistant and aide positions left open by retirements and staff departures; specific counts were not provided.
On professional development and planning, the administration concluded a two-day summer retreat. On day one the district hosted a BOCES representative who briefed the team on New York INSPIRES, described in the meeting as the state's plan to phase in new content areas such as personal finance and climate science, revise graduation measures and introduce a state portrait of a graduate. On day two staff attended training at Apple in New York City on innovation and leadership. The district worked with consulting partner Concordant to crosswalk Pleasantville 2026 strategies with the state's Portrait of a Graduate and said it will send surveys and invite community participation via ParentSquare later this summer.
On safety, the staff member said the district safety team met in May and made minor updates to the district safety plan. The draft was posted on the district website "today" for a public viewing period exceeding 30 days, and the district and three revised building safety plans will be available for board approval at the August board meeting.
The district's communications team launched a redesigned website with improved navigation, an enhanced mobile experience and integration with ParentSquare; staff said they will continue refining site content and share resources and tutorials before school begins. Hard-copy district calendars are scheduled to be mailed to homes in the first week of August; the staff member said staff would check and provide an update when asked.
Next steps: the school board is expected to consider the appointment of Jonathan DeSanto as assistant business manager at tonight's meeting, and the district safety plan and revised building plans are slated for board approval in August.
