Clarkstown Board of Education Approves Tenure

The Clarkstown Board of Education approved tenure for almost 30 employees at a Tuesday afternoon meeting.  Once the session began, the board adjourned to an executive session for about 15 minutes. 

Four of the seven board members were present for the smooth-running meeting. Tenure was recommended by Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan and awarded to almost 30 administrators, teachers and teaching assistants nearing the end of their probationary period.  Many were joined by family, friends and school colleagues, who gave them a standing ovation. 

The administrators who received were:

• Julie Dahl, Assistant Principal at Clarkstown South High School
• Amy Franchi, Assistant Principal at Clarkstown North High School
• Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Professional Development, District Office   

The teachers who received tenure were:

• Marianna Artale-Dougherty, Special Education, District
• Khris Arvanites, Science, Clarkstown South
• Montserrat Ballina-Llosa, Foreign Languages, Clarkstown South
• Stephen Barrett, Special Education, Felix Festa Middle School
• Marietta Bennett, Speech/Hearing Impairment, Felix Festa
• Lisa Cavallo, Special Education, Birchwood School
• Jane Dinnegan, Elementary, Link Elementary School
• Jill Fliesser, Science, Clarkstown South
• Laura Hagan, ESL, Link
• Ryan Hurm, Speech/Hearing Impairment, Birchwood
• Joan Jordan, Special Education, Clarkstown North
• Niamh McCabe, Music, Felix Festa
• Erin McGrath, Speech/Hearing Impairment, West Nyack Elementary School
• Andrea Miranda, Foreign Languages, Clarkstown North
•  Mariam Moccio, Foreign Languages, Felix Festa
• Joseph Stefania, Business Education, South and North
• Julie Upton, Music, Little Tor Elementary School 

The teaching assistants who were awarded tenure were:

• Dina Cannavale, Strawtown Elementary School
• Joanne Coulter, Clarkstown South
• Brenda Holohan, Link
• Susan King, Woodglen Elementary School
• Doreen Merrigan, Clarkstown North
• Carole Sacco, West Nyack

The superintendent thanked the newly tenured employees for helping the children of Clarkstown achieve success and for their service to the district.

“The quality of this system basically stands on your shoulders,” she said.

Board member Joe Malgieri said, “I know how hard each and every one of you has worked to get to this point.”

Board Trustee Robert Alan Carlucci congratulated the employees and Trustee Diane Hoeneveld wished them a long and successful career with the district.

Phil DeGaetano praised the teaching assistants and teachers for helping the district’s students and thanked them for the salary freeze, which had helped the district.

Before the board began voting on agenda items, John LaNave, assistant superintendent for business, facilities and fiscal management spoke during the public comment period.  He noted that he was losing a valued employee with the retirement of Joel Spanier, an administrative assistant in Business Services, on June 30. 

“I know you have to vote yes,” LaNave said.  “I wish there was a way you keep him.”