Year has been defined by transition, improvements and progress.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (January 30, 2019) – Board of Education President Jeffrey Hastie and Interim Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey delivered their State of the District Address at last night’s Board of Education meeting.
“This has been a year of transition as well as a year of progress and hope,” Hastie said. “And, as the Board of Education continues to extend greater communication to our community, we felt that a State of the District address from the Board of Education President would be important to keep you informed and engaged.”
Hastie said the state of the District is strong. “Over the past year, we have changed,” he said. “We have improved in many ways. At the same time, we have kept and continued to improve all the things that have always made New Rochelle such an extraordinary school system.”
He addressed the search for a new superintendent and acknowledged the challenges of the past year.
“The events of the past year impacted everything we have done since, and have helped shape this coming year and we will discuss this further,” Hastie said. “But, our District – like our community – is not defined by them.”
He commended the residents of the city on their school spirit and enthusiasm for events and activities that involve District students and the schools.
“Our Town Hall meetings have been a huge success, giving community members a chance to ask questions directly to Board members, administrators and principals about our programs and strategies,” he said.
Dr. Parvey acknowledged that the District is moving forward and there are examples of a foundation to build on throughout the District’s schools.
“When you see Principal Michael Hilderbrand greeting his students at Trinity with that enthusiastic “Buenos dias, muchachos!” and when you see Davis Principal Anthony Bambrola dressing up as the Davis Dolphin to march with his students in the city’s annual Thanksgiving parade, you have no doubt that our administrators and faculty members would do anything for their students,” she said.
She acknowledged the wide array of honors that have been bestowed upon the District’s teachers this year, including the naming of Elizabeth Barret-Zahn from Columbus Elementary School as the editor of Science and Children.
She further acknowledged other accomplishments of teachers and coaches.
“Ask anyone about Debbie Minchin at New Rochelle High School, who just returned from a trip to Washington D.C. with her AP Government class to introduce them to the halls of power they are learning about,” Dr. Harvey said. “Or, Coach Andy Cappellan – known as Coach Cap to just about everyone – who was inducted last year into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. The student-athletes on the girls track team know Cap as the mentor who will push them to do their best — not just on the field, but in all aspects of their lives.”
Dr. Parvey said that Amy Goodman, interim Assistant Superintendent for Student Services is exploring the root causes of chronic absenteeism, which is at 16 percent in New Rochelle, slightly higher than the national average of 14 percent.
She also celebrated student accomplishments of the past year.
“It was no accident last year that our students were accepted by all eight Ivy League schools. Ninety-five percent of the members of the class of 2018 went to post-secondary school education. The rest went into the military, took a gap year or joined the workforce,” she said. “This year, members of the Class of 2019 have already been accepted by Harvard, Georgetown, Fordham, NYU, Dartmouth, DePaul and many more – even the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.”
She provided the audience with an update of construction projects as the District is in its third year of improvements after the passing of a $108 million bond.
“Some of these historic buildings are beautiful, and the high school is a real jewel in the city’s crown,” she said. “They are looking better. Our elementary school students play on up-to-date playground equipment. Our high school track is brand new.”
Lastly, she called on everyone in the community to get even more involved with the District, its schools and its students.
“Our vow to you is that we always devote everything we have in us to preserve and build on what makes us great and to continue to improve in every way,” Dr. Parvey. “We will always provide the best for our students, support them when they need help, guide them, celebrate their endless achievements and applaud them as they graduate into the wider world and make their marks in every field of endeavor.”
About the City School District of New Rochelle
With nearly 11,000 students in 10 schools, the City School District of New Rochelle, through an active partnership amongst community, parents, staff and students, provides a high-quality and challenging education for every child, in a safe, nurturing environment that embraces rich diversity and drives success.
