Goals and Committees

Aligning with our commitment to fiscal responsibility, our mission and the District vision statement, which emphasizes high expectations, creative and critical thinking, sense of belonging, and continuous improvement, the Board and Superintendent will focus on the following systemic goal areas:

1. Prioritize the highest quality full time in-person education possible for all Pelham students, supporting their physical and emotional health, while balancing the safety needs of students and staff as we continue to work within the context of the pandemic.
2. Work to renew our student-centered high achieving academic culture after the challenges of 2020-21, by deepening our relationships, connections, and networks of support with and for students and staff.  Return to multiple avenues of communication and in-person engagement with our greater Pelham community.
3. Oversee implementation of the District’s Strategic Plan including updated action plans to support specific, meaningful, and observable outcomes in the following strategic goal areas:
   • Cultural Competence - Cultivate an empathetic, inclusive and equitable school community that values and encourages respect, voice and agency for all students.
   • Authentic Learning - 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.
   • Whole Child - 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.

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 DeDomenico, Board of Education President, John Brice, BOE Member

Administrative Liaison: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business

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

Community Members: Maria Tiso, Adam Ilkowitz, Steph McGovern, Kelly Ulto

Authentic Learning/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 Members: Jessica DeDomenico, Board of Education President, Ian Rowe, Leah Tahbaz

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities, Dr. Tom Callahan, Director of Math & Science, John Sebalos, Director of Technology, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School, Dr. Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald, Principal of Hutchinson School, Rachael Garcia, Principal of Colonial School, Farid Johnson, Principal of Siwanoy School, Sean Llewellyn, Asst. Principal of Pelham Middle School, Mark Berkowitz, Principal of PMHS, Dr. Lauren Ribeiro Supervisor of Special Education K-5, Greg Lau, Supervisor for Special Education Gr. 6-12. 

Community Members: Peter S. Liaskos, Elizabeth Herbert-Wasson, Joannie Paradis, Amy Sparano.

Facilities/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: John Brice, BOE Member

Administrative Liaison: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business

Additional Board of Education Members: Sue Bratone Childs, Ian Rowe

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald, Principal of Hutchinson School, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School, Mark Berkowitz, Principal of PMHS ,Lynn Sabia, Principal of Pelham Middle School, John Sebalos, Director of Technology, John Condon, Director of Facilities, Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer.

Community Members: Rob Gimigliano, Jess Young, Garrett Ahitow, Ronald Diaz

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.  

Committee Chair: Jessica Dedomenico, BOE President

Administrative Liaison: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools

Additional Staff Members: Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer 

Community Members: Dina Mangiafridda, Lynda Banfield, Diane Otter, Paula Wood, Jennifer Hawks Bland, Erin Ginsburg, Liza Schaeffer, Christine Elliott.

COVID Oversight

Focus: The COVID Oversight Committee will provide input and feedback to the District and Board of Education on how to manage the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on promoting an environment that is safe, and which mirrors, as much as possible, the educational and co-curricular environment that existed for students prior to the advent of COVID-19. 

Committee Chair: Vinny Mazzaro, BOE Member

Administrative Liaison: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools

Board of Education Members: Michael Owen-Michaane

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald, Principal of Hutchinson School, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School, Sean Llewellyn, Asst. Principal of Pelham Middle School, Beth Antonelli, Assistant Principal of PMHS, Dr. Tom Callahan, Director of Math and Science, Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, John Condon, Director of Facilities.

Community Members: Kelly Crotty, Maria Luisa DeCicco, Jen DeFazio, Chris Choulet, Kristen Burke, Jackie DeAngelis, Tara Weishaupl.

Cultural Competence Committee (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 Chair: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools 

Board of Education Members: Sue Bratone Childs, Ian Rowe 

Community Members: Debra Stern, Erin Larkin-Maguire, Lauren Dehler, Amy Kwan, Suany Aquino-Chudavala, Sarah McKee, Jennifer Solimine, Angelica Moran, Samantha McMullen, Jon Wallace, Steven Shekane, Myrna Brady, Melissa Labonte, Annemarie Garcia, Eileen Miller, Jeff Ginsburg, Tiffany Hebert. 

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Steven Garcia, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction & Personnel, Julia Chung, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities, Dr. Trisha Nugent Fitzgerald, Principal of Hutchinson School, Jeannine Carr, Principal of Prospect Hill School, Farid Johnson, Principal of Siwanoy School, Rachael Garcia, Principal of Colonial School, Lynn Sabia, Principal of Pelham Middle School, Mark Berkowitz, Principal of PMHS, Trisha Joseph, School Psychologist.

Finance

Focus: The Finance Committee will oversee both short-term and long-term Budget planning & implementation. 

Committee Chair: Sue Bratone Childs, Board Vice President

Additional Board of Education Members: Vinny Mazzaro, John Brice

Administrative Liaison: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business

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

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: Leah Tahbaz

Administrative Liaison: Dr. Cheryl Champ

Additional BOE Members: Jessica DeDomenico, Michael Owen-Michaane

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Steven Garcia, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel, Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, 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: Leah Tahbaz

Additional Staff Members: Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Beth Antonelli, Asst. Principal of PMHS, Gene Farrell, Director of Counseling.

Community Members: Edward Clarke, Kamy English, Judy Shampanier.\

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, Michael Owen-Michaane

Additional Staff Members: Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, Lauren Ribeiro, Supervisor for Special Education K-5, Greg Lau, Supervisor for Special Education Gr. 6-12, Christian Hodge, Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics, Gene Farrell, Director of Counseling, Beth Antonelli, Asst. Superintendent of PMHS, Kara Weiss, Teacher, Sarah DeSoye, Psychologist.  

Community Members: Nandini Anandu, Pavithra Mandappa, Peter Romaniuk, Laura Caruso.

BOE Governance & Meetings

The Board will publish an annual document describing their protocols and practices related to communications as well as district goals.

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, and 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 via 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 on matters related to the district. The Superintendent will provide the Board with a detailed update of items of importance via the weekly update. 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, text or phone.

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 on their work, especially as it relates to district goals, 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 relative to the district goals.

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 (i.e. beyond clarifying question) 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 district Committee meetings to the full Board (e.g. agendas, minutes, presentations, etc.)

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 facilitate timely responses from administration.  Board members may also submit questions prior to agenda setting on the shared google doc.  Board members may suggest agenda items via the President prior to agenda setting.

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