Warwick School Board approves staff changes
By Abby Wolf
WARWICK — Even as the dust settles from Commencement 2015, the Warwick Valley Central School District is already planning for the 2015-2016 school year, beginning with the swearing-in of the current school board and the announcement of administrative changes.
The oaths of officeNewly re-elected school board president Lynn Lillian, vice-president Sharon Davis and long-time board member and former president Dave Eaton took their oaths of office for the upcoming three-year term, at the regular monthly meeting on Monday.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Leach also was sworn in.
Middle School assistant principals
The board announced that Meghan McGourty will be one of two new assistant principals at the middle school. McGourty previously taught seventh- and eighth-grade math at the middle school, as well as algebra at the high school.
She has also been coach of girls’ modified basketball. Prior to that, McGourty taught in New York City.
The district also welcomed Alex Levine, who will also be assistant principal at the middle school; his most recent position was at the Hendrick Hudson Central School District in Westchester County.
Levine has a background in technology, and is a Certified Google Educator.
High school associate principal
Marguerite Fusco will be associate principal at the high school. Fusco has more than 20 years teaching a variety of math courses, including Integrated Math I, II and III, Common Core Geometry and SAT prep.
She hails most recently from East Ramapo and Ramapo Central School districts.
New principal at SanfordvilleJohnna Maraia will begin the 2015-16 school year as principal of Sanfordville Elementary.
Previously, she was assistant principal at the middle school; prior to that, she was the principal at Park Avenue Elementary.
Leach thanked John Russo, Director of Human Resources and Safety, as well as several principals who were involved in the hiring of the principal and assistant principals, saying that the process was “done very well…very professional.”
New student board memberIncoming Warwick Valley High School senior Molly Little was welcomed to the school board as student member.
“She’s articulate, engaged, comfortable talking on many different subjects," Lillian said.
Greenwood LakeGreenwood Lake Liaison Karen Gardiner thanked the school board for reaching out to eighth graders, enabling a smooth transition for those kids who will be coming to Warwick Valley High School in the fall.
Solar energy School board member Keith Parsons noted that the Facilities Committee has been “busy:”
A Verizon repeater is to be completed at the high school by the end of the summer.
Also, the committee is looking at a solar energy performance contract with Con Edison; it is expected that any costs are to be canceled out by reimbursements to come from New York State in the form of state aid and energy credits.
The district expects to see about a quarter-million dollars in savings, with “zero cost to the district, zero cost to the taxpayer.”
Other businessThe district approved the 2015-16 Special Education Plan. Board members also gave the nod to new textbooks for high school physics and middle school math and health.
The board also set school bus routes for the coming year, as well as prices for school breakfast and lunch:
$1.15 for breakfast in the elementary and middle schools
$2.40 for lunch at the elementary school
$2.65 for lunch at the middle school
Prices to be a la carte for both breakfast and lunch at the high school.
NextRegular meeting, Aug. 10, 7 p.m., Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center
Work session, Aug. 24, 7 p.m., Dorothy C. Wilson Center