Goals and Committees

1. Implement the District’s Strategic Plan including the following areas of focus:
   • Cultivate an empathetic, inclusive and equitable school community that values and encourages respect, voice and agency for all students.
   • Develop innovative problem solvers, critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators and strong collaborators who can apply their knowledge and skills to navigate real world challenges.
   • Deepen our systemic academic and social-emotional supports for the health, safety, and well-being of the whole child, recognizing that our learners need to balance academic, physical, social, and emotional demands.
2. Provide the highest quality education for the students of the Pelham Public Schools, while balancing the physical and emotional health and safety needs of students and staff created by COVID-19 health crisis.
3. Develop a responsible budget that manages the District’s short and long-term finances in a way that balances the preservation of program, staffing, and operational efficiencies.
4. Oversee implementation of the 2018 Bond Referendum projects, administering all processes necessary to adhere to established timelines and budgets, and implementing a plan for transparent collaboration with the Board and community.
5. Review and revise district policies, providing for robust involvement of parents, community members, and all stakeholders.

Audit

Focus: To oversee and report to the Board on the annual independent audit of the District’s records. The committee shall recommend the selection of the independent and internal auditors and continue on through the review of significant internal and external audit findings. 

Committee Chair: Vincent Mazzaro, BOE Member

Additional Board of Education Members: Jessica Young

Administrative Liaison: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools

Community Members: Michele Egan, Mary Crotty, Adam Ilkowitz, Harry Brandler

Authentic Learning (formerly Curriculum)

Focus: The Authentic Learning/Curriculum Committee will explore, study and implement the action steps of this goal area in the District’s Strategic Plan. Specifically, the committee will be looking at ways to advance relevant and authentic experiences for all students, and exploring how the District’s use of time and space can better support these efforts. 

Committee Chair: Dr. Steven Garcia, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel

Board of Education Member: Jessica DeDomenico, BOE President

Additional Staff Members: Julia Chung, Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities, Dr. Thomas Callahan, Director of Math and Science, John Sebalos, Director of Technology, Sean Llewellyn, Asst. Principal of Pelham Middle School, Beth Antonelli, Asst. Principal of Pelham Memorial High School, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School. 

Community Members: Joanie Paradis, Amy Sparano, Jessyka Calzolaio, Julie Choi, Elizabeth Herbert-Wasson

Bond Steering

Focus: The Bond Steering Committee will be the district’s advisory interface with the architect and construction manager. The Committee will meet between Board of Education (BOE) meetings to vet information related to construction, design and cost necessary to make informed decisions regarding the implementation of the 2018 Capital Improvement Bond. This committee will make recommendations to the Board as needed.

Committee Chair: Jessica Young, BOE Member

Additional Board of Education Members: John Brice, Sue Bratone Childs

Additional Staff Members: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, John Condon, Director of Facilities, Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald, Principal of Hutchinson School, Mark Berkowitz, Principal of Pelham Memorial High School, Lynn Sabia, Principal of Pelham Middle School, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School, Christian Hodge, Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics, John Sebalos, Director of Technology, Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer. 

Community Members: James Smithmeyer, Madeline Smith, Mayank Desai, Chiara Goodyear, Todd Nice, Garrett Ahitow

Community Engagement and Advocacy

Focus: To evaluate and improve two-way communication with the community and to advocate for the educational interests of our students and Public Education at both the state and local levels. During the 2020-21 school year, this committee may also assist in providing feedback on the District's educational plans as it related to the Hybrid and Distance learning models. 

Committee Chair: Jessica Dedomenico, BOE President

Additional Board of Education Members: Eileen Miller

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer. 

Community Members: Erin Ginsburg, Jennifer Hawks Bland, Liza Schaeffer, Christine Elliott, Kate Pringle, Christine Conroy, Nevena Toaso, Liselle Sakhrani, Kamy English, Mandy Vukadinovic, Melissa Labonte, Mike Erario.

Cultural Competence Oversight (formerly Diversity)

Focus: The Cultural Competence Committee will oversee the implementation of the action steps of this goal area in the District’s Strategic Plan. Specifically, the committee will work with District wide staff to support efforts to increase student voice and agency, align curriculum to reflect principles, values and lessons of inclusivity and equity, incorporate culturally responsive theory and practice, and build a more diverse and culturally proficient staff.   

Committee Co-Chairs: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities and Lynn Sabia, Principal of Pelham Middle School

Board of Education Members: Eileen Miller

Community Members: Peter Romaniuk, Noreen Naroo-Pucci, Annemarie Garcia, Jeff Ginsburg, Erin Larkin-Maguire, Maria Ines Raij, Cynthia Morgan Jenkins, Dennisa Angrisani, Shakira Kennedy, Lauren Dehler, Jeannie Crowley, Amanda Rosa, Estee Cross, Debra Stern, Louise Kelly. 

Facilities/Athletic Facilities

Focus: The Facilities/Athletic Facilities Committee will oversee the long-term Capital Improvement Planning for all the district’s facilities including maintenance, small, and large capital projects relating to all schools, athletic facilities, and offices.

Committee Co-Chairs: John Brice, BOE Member and Vinny Mazzaro, BOE member

Additional Staff Members: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, John Condon, Director of Facilities, Christian Hodge, Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics. 

Community Members: Joe Solimine, Joseph Janos, Gabriele Di Luozzo. 

Policy

Focus: Update, review and recommend required policies and regulations in an on-going basis in collaboration with BOCES services, to be consistent with new state mandates and requirements.

BOE Chair: Eileen Miller

Administrative Liaison: Dr. Cheryl Champ

Additional BOE Members: Leah Tahbaz

Additional Staff Members: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Dr. Steven Garcia, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel, Julia Chung, Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services. 

Safety and Security

Focus: The District's Safety & Security Committee works to assess and improve the security of our buildings and ensure that our students and staff are safe in and around the school facilities. 

Committee Chair: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business

Board of Education Members: Sue Bratone Childs

Administrative Staff Members: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Julia Chung, Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, John Condon, Director of Facilities, John Sebalos, Director of Technology. 

Community Members: Judy Shampanier, Nancy Harvey, Michael O'Hara

Wellness

Focus: The Wellness Committee works as an oversight committee to maintain and/or implement new programs and strategies through a perspective of best practice for the social and emotional wellness of our students K-12. 

Committee Chair: Julia Chung, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services

Board of Education Members: Leah Tahbaz

Additional Staff Members: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Christian Hodge, Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics, Dr. Lauren Ribeiro, CPSE/CSE Chairperson & K-5 Supervisor of Special Education, Greg Lau, Supervisor for Special Education Gr. 6-12, Beth Antonelli, Asst. Principal of Pelham Memorial High School, Eugene Farrell, Director of Counseling.  

Community Members: Laura Caruso, Martha Arden, Nandini Anandu, Myrna Brady, Pavithra Mandappa, Kara Weiss, Jessica Galatioto. 

Board of Education Meetings

The Board will publish an annual document describing their protocols and practices related to the functioning of the meetings.

The Board will emphasize planning, policy making, and public relations rather than becoming involved in the micro management of the schools.

The Board will set clear goals for themselves and the Superintendent. The Board and Superintendent will set clear goals for the Pelham Public Schools.

The Board will review its behavior by yearly self-evaluation and by addressing itself to any individual problems, such as poor meeting attendance or breaches in confidentiality.

Board meetings are for decision making, action, and votes, not unnecessary discussion. Board members should make an effort to pose questions that they have to any of the central office administrators in advance of the Board meeting. When such questions are posed vie email, Board members should copy the Superintendent and President. When posed verbally, the Superintendent and President should be notified. Board members may also use the shared google doc to pose meeting questions prior to Agenda Setting meetings.

The Board President will decide how consent agenda items will be taken at the meeting in advance. The Board President will manage public comment at meetings.

Board members may access the District Clerk as a resource to obtain information.

With Superintendent of Schools

The Board President is the primary contact of the Superintendent of Schools. As such, it is expected that the Superintendent shall maintain regular communication with the Board President on matters of importance.

It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to maintain regular communication with all members of the Board of Education.

The Superintendent will provide the Board with a detailed update of items of importance via the weekly letter. Board members will be responsible for reading the update/packet and contacting the Superintendent with any questions.

The Superintendent will use email as a tool to provide information to the full Board of Education.

The Superintendent will immediately inform the Board of major issues pertaining to student matters (medical emergencies, arrests, significant altercations, etc.). This may be done through email or telephone.

Any Board member may contact the Superintendent at any time regarding issues or questions. Emails regarding Board business should be copied to the Board President. Replies from the Superintendent should also include a copy to the Board President.

The Superintendent and Board President will meet on a regular basis to plan Board meeting agendas and items for discussion with the full Board of Education.

With Board Members

Communication should flow from Board President to members and vice versa.

All pertinent issues brought to individual Board members from community members should be raised with the Board President.

Relevant emails of concern should be forwarded to the Board President.

The Board President will be responsible for communicating and/or sharing information to the full Board.

Board members will refrain from detailed discussion about any Board business or decision making via email.

Central Administration

All Assistant Superintendents will provide a brief update that will be sent to the Board in the weekly packet prior to Board meetings with all corresponding back-up materials. All issues should be referenced and explained so that the issue could be put into its proper context.

Board members will have the prerogative to call an Assistant Superintendent to ask clarifying questions. Board members will use their judgment when contacting central office administrators. The Superintendent and President should be notified when such calls are placed or copied when inquiries are made via email.

Questions regarding process or more substantial issues should be brought to the Superintendent with a copy to the Board President for follow-up.

Central Office administrators will have a responsibility to include all supporting information from Committee meetings to the full Board.

All items for Board action will be presented to the Board the week prior to the meeting whenever practicable.

Agenda Setting meetings will be held with the Superintendent, President, Vice President, and an additional trustee on a rotating basis prior to all meetings for the purpose of clarifying questions and information as needed so that efficient discussion and decision-making can occur at the meeting. Board members should communicate questions to the Superintendent or President prior to agenda setting meetings to facility timely responses from administration. Board members may also submit questions prior to agenda setting on the shared google doc.

All communication with building level administrators will go through the Superintendent.