In this article Mr. Ross cited number of students not increasing from the previous year. Mr.Ross was the interim superintendent and HS Principal during contingency budget and the school was at status quo. Now the school budget passed and with no academic improvements cited or shown, I see Mr. Ross is busy adding administrators to our very small school district. >>>> Did you know that there are now 2 Assistant Principals at the High school? (1 is a newly created position!!!) <<<< So, at Woodlands High School we have a principal, 2 assistant principals and 1 dean of student, all for a school of 400 or so kids. These 4 individuals are collecting upwards of 500K+ in annual salaries (not including fringe benefits). Instead of more programs for the kids (maybe books to buy to help our teachers and students prepare for the common core learning standard or more afterschool programs for our kids) we are paying more salaries for more administrators?! We have 6 schools with already 6 different principals, it's just truly shocking at the waste at the top level. This is what is happening in Greenburgh Central 7 district. View Comment

Good luck to GC7 BOE trustees Terry, Eric and Sonja. May the force be with you so you can bring positive change to our district. Greenburghmomof2: You are quite judgmental. Instead of applauding the 3 new BOE trustees EQUALLY you show your true colors in your words. Shame on you for knocking on people who are trying to make a difference. View Comment

View the forum via webcast at: http://tinyurl.com/ckj76br Select: GC7 PTA Candidates Night * May 9, 2012 View Comment

Seriously folks?! Using a 9/11 wall to attack Paul Feiner? 9/11 was a sacred day, many of us were affected beyond words. I like the 911 memorial wall. I have taken my kids there and visited the wall and talked about what 9/11 means to each of the kids that made the individual tiles. I have talked to my kids about what 9/11 means to me. I am proud that Hartsdale has a 9/11 memorial and that it doesn't take 10+ yrs to get started (look at NYC). View Comment

What touched my nerves is the board failing to choose one of the two superintendent candidates who really could have helped our district improve educational standards and maintain a budget, instead opting for a superintendent who has put two prior school districts far over budget and who used school postage from one of the schools to send out personal mailings. Don't those things touch your nerves? If not, then I encourage you, as you said, to run for the board of schools and work with him to make sure of HIS "Commitment to Excellence". View Comment

Touched a nerve! Enough said. View Comment

Greenburghmomof2, why do you keep checking back if you are "glad" to " have a superintendent"??? Perhaps you are not convincing yourself with your false optimism. Perhaps you are just as alarmed as other parents with the BOE choice. Are you really "happy with my children's education"? I guess your children are still young and you are happy, that's great and I am happy for you. When you children are in the upper grades I would like to hear you say the same. View Comment

The Board of Education appeared to focus on only a portion of the Greenburgh community, which is particularly troubling because, given the bleak reputation of the higher grades of Greenburgh7, it is so important for all of Greenburgh to achieve academically. And because of the current economic woes, it is disappointing that the Board failed to hire one of the two superintendent finalists with a proven track record of academic achievement and fiscal responsibility. Instead, the Board chose a Superintendent who, yes, has substantial superintendent experience, but who left two prior New York superintendent jobs early, both times going far over budget and one time even getting caught using school postage for personal mailings. None of this will help educate the Greenburgh7 students whose need for academic achievement should trump politics. View Comment

Greenburgh central 7 board of ed spent $50,000 on "finding the best candidate". Well, I think they should have spent some of the money getting new glasses and hearing aides or whatever they needed to open their eyes and ears. Perhaps it's glaucoma or wax that's the problem. Poor parents got a glimpse of what a really good superintendent candidate can do for the school district and the BOE choose otherwise. So now the BOE will spend all their time saying "yes" to the new expenditures that no doubt will be cropping up. History repeats itself. Philosopher George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." For the GC7 BOE I think it'll be "Those who ignore the past are condemned to repeat it". My condolences to the poor children and taxpayer of Greenburgh. View Comment

Kudos again to Board of Ed for an excellent superintendent candidate. Mr. Copeland was an excellent communicator. He was able to give concrete successes of his work in Piscataway, such as providing quality before and after school care (tuition-based) so that parents can work. Such as Mr. Copeland also provided interesting insights on the Common Core Learning Standards. He was able to communicate some of the flaws the CCLS has and it was excellent food for thought. His ease dealing with difficult questions was apparent and appreciated. Despite the flaws he is aware only through repeated assessments can the strong/weak spots be identified. Mr. Copeland provided insight into the budget process and also talked about how he arrives at a final budget proposal. He cited collaboration with all admins and really seem to understand frugal running of schools in economically tough times. He seems unfazed in the face of budget not passing and will continue to do the job at hand, which is educating students. I applaud Mr. Copeland's ease of talking to BOE president Mr. Williams and to the audience. His answers to many tough questions (asked for the 3rd time this week) was realistic and honest. He brings alot of experience to the table and has a drive to "make a difference". Again, bravo to Board of Ed for an excellent candidate. View Comment

Kudos to Greenburgh Board of Ed for this finalist. Wow, what a refreshing presentation from Mr. Cavanna!! A superintendent candidate who showed an ability to communicate (to parents and community at large!!!), has leadership skills (cited successes), kept budgets flat in districts where he has worked, has connections to local community businesses (Regeneron and Dannon to name a few). We need a leader who is humble enough to speak to a senior citizen (who has gone to school over 60 yrs ago!) and talk to them about what the schools at Greenburgh are doing. We need someone who can foster that public outreach while building trust and a positive"return on investment" mentality for every dollar spent (and have the fiduciary duty to back it up!). For the parents like us, we need a leader who is not afraid to talk to parents who ask questions and want to be involved. Many parents nowadays are powerful professionals that have alot of resources and "out-of-the'box" ideas to help schools. Mr. Cavanna also proposed ways to drum up parental involvement!! Parental involvement will be key to a higher success for a child. Bravo to Board of Ed, can't wait for the last candidate. View Comment

A sign of a good leader is someone who communicates. If parents ask questions respectfully, they have concerns. Good leaders provide rational and reasonable answers to address those concerns and are not on the defensive. There are concerns about Ross' past history, Mr. Ross should feel good that so many parents came out to hear what he has to say but instead he harped on being attacked. Mr. Ross talked alot about creating a model green school, which will be costly. The audience last night didn't think about the possibility of in 3 yrs the budget might be 75 million, are we going to pay for that willingly??? Mr. Ross said last night "I can't work with austerity budget!". Well, that's what we have because people are already disgusted at the lack of return on their taxes (so much $$ for poor scores). Mr. Ross also commented at length his disdain for standardized test and that he only follows because it's mandated by the state. He can get a grass root movement to Albany to fight the standardized test on his own time, right now our kids need to study and learn. Mr. Ross also repeated many times that he only answers to a "higher power". I am not sure what to make of that. So, are you saying that board of ed is not your boss? And that you don't need to answer questions from parents? Or that you don't need to address your peers or administrators? Again, to be a superintendent there's a hefty paycheck ($220,000 +!) to collect but you can't turn around and ignore the questions and rumors and just harp on being attacked. Be a leader that you want to be, show your kids that you can take criticisms and questions and then communicate your answers. View Comment

As a parent I have the following questions- 1. Why is GC7 Board of Education and interim superintendent approving a community health center on school grounds? Does this community health center deal with education directly?? We need to focus on academics on GC7 school grounds. 2. Why would we want to encourage a SICK child to come to school to get treated??? We tell parents to keep a sick child at home so they don't get others sick. It makes NO sense to have sick children walking through school and pass the cafeteria to get help. 3. What will this community health center offer? I would want to know about the health of my child. Will the parents be notified? What if a child gets contraceptives from this health center? Will GC7 school be seen as encouraging sexual behavior in our teens? Public school exists to offer public education to our children and GC7 BOE and school admin need to focus on that. View Comment

When did public school start to provide healthcare?!?! The focus of Greenburgh Public schools should be to educate the children, not to provide a nurse/doctor! The Board of Ed members are irresponsible to promise school space to outside organizations. What if a child gets hurt?? The school and in turn the town of Greenburgh is LIABLE!!! Think of the liabilities!!! Is this board member a personal injury attorney and fully aware of risks??? Did the article state that the interim superintendent is supporting this??? Shouldn't this individual be worrying about the test scores and teachings of the school rather than leasing school spaces??? Also, what happens to the clinic when the state grants run out??? Are we to suppose the taxpayers of Greenburgh will foot the bill??? Last checked we didn't pass the school budget the last year! Having healthcare clinic in public school is a TERRIBLE idea and should not be done. View Comment