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Westchester Now

Latest news and conversation around the news from Westchester, Rockland and the Hudson Valley.

Superintendents survey: Insolvency on horizon for 9% of schools

Classroom

Photo credit: Daniel Brennan

Nine percent of school districts statewide face financial insolvency in the next two years, according to a survey of school superintendents released Tuesday.

The New York State Council of School Superintendents said more of their members than ever before are warning that their districts are becoming unable to fund state and federal mandates.

Five percent of districts are already unable...

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Poughkeepsie nets $100K for farm-to-school program

Farm assistant Elder Arita cuts kale from a

Photo credit: Rory Glaeseman

Leafy kale and local milk may soon be on the menu at Poughkeepsie schools, thanks to a $100,000 grant announced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

The money will help the district put in practice a "farm-to-school" initiative bringing local foods and food-system education to the school district with money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gillibrand worked to include...

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Goshen's Scotchtown Ave. Elementary custodian honored

Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School custodian Garry Van De

In school news, the focus is often on the contributions and achievements of principal and teachers. But it's people like Goshen's Garry Van De Weert that keep schools running and, according to his colleagues, shining so that kids can come their every day and learn, according to a news release.

Van De Weert, head custodian at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School, was recently honored by the...

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Dobbs Ferry superintendent hosts local TV show

Dobbs Ferry Schools Superintendent Lisa Brady interviews PTSA

Photo credit: Provided by Dobbs Ferry School District

In a move to connect more with the community, Dobbs Ferry schools Superintendent Lisa Brady is hosting a new half-hour interview show called "District Dialogue" on the district's cable TV station.

The line up so far includes the PTSA president, school foundation leaders and school principals.

The district’s cable station is currently used by students in the district's television...

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Three Hudson Valley schools collect national blue ribbons

Yonkers Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio, far right, stands next

Photo credit: Xavier Mascareñas

Representatives from three Hudson Valley schools travelled to Washington D.C. this week to collect their 2012 National Blue Ribbon awards. The schools are among 314 nationwide to receive the 2012 recognition.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private schools that either have high-performing students or students showing significant improvement.

All three Hudson...

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Tarrytown school nets $43.7M from sale of donated Monet

The Claude Monet painting Nympheas is auctioned at

Photo credit: AP

The elite, private Hackley School in Tarrytown netted $43.7 million from the donation of a Claude Monet painting sold at Christie's New York auction house Wednesday.

The "Nympheas" painting is a 1905 view of the lily pond at Giverny from the definitive series of Monet's career. The school received the donation from the estate of Ethel Strong Allen, wife of the late Wall Street executive...

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East Ramapo students find musical outlet at Salvation Army

Richard Vilcean, 10, of Spring Valley, practices the

Photo credit: Faye Murman

Brass instructor Donny Spencer counted off the beats of a whole note Thursday, urging his students at the Spring Valley Salvation Army to take big breaths and blow through all four beats.

With public schools trimming back on arts offerings, the music program has a waiting list for East Ramapo students who want the opportunity to toot their horns. 

Already, 52 aspiring young musicians...

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Hudson Valley parents rip excess school testing

David Nielsen, left, president of the Tarrytown Elementary

Photo credit: Nancy Siesel

Another round of field tests in New York's public schools has parents again shouting that their students should not be used as guinea pigs for a private test company.

State education department test development contractor NCS Pearson Inc. is gauging the validity of its questions this week by giving sample tests to students in 559 schools statewide. Last spring, a similar field test by parents,...

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