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063000 School board revises ,
academic freedom policyBY
FRANK NARDOZZIThe Bedford Central School District's policy with regard to academic freedom was revised and updated last week to include students as well as teachers in its guarantees of the right to hold individual beliefs, faiths and opinions.
The action was taken by the Bedford Central School Board at its meeting held Wednesday, June 21.
School Board Member and Unitarian Elin Sullivan, chairman of the policy committee, stated afterward the meeting that the revisions were "not driven by the lawsuit against the school district" involving the charge of unlawful fostering of religious beliefs, known as "the Satan Suit," but rather were part of an overall review of school policies.
That suit, brought by three conservative Roman Catholic families, all of whom lived in Pound Ridge at the time the suit was filed, is currently on appeal and may yet be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
A federal judge ruled in favor of the families on three of 15 charges involving school practices with regard to Earth Day observances, the sale of "worry dolls" and the making of a likeness of a Hindu god. Twelve other charges were dismissed.
"We did not have that in mind when we revised this policy," said Ms. Sullivan, adding that the school board simply wished to "more clearly protect students and teachers alike in a more parallel manner."
The policy generally follows the guide-lines recommended by the New York State School Boards Association, as well as state and federal laws, she said.
A policy with regard to "religion in the schools" will be put before the school board in September. All school policies are avail-able to the public in a loose-leaf binder at each of the four public libraries in the district, including Mount Kisco, Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Pound Ridge, she said.
New policy details
The new, slightly revised, academic freedom policy states that "the Board of Education guarantees the ability of staff and students to form and express independent opinions and beliefs free from undue influence."
The policy also says "the right of teachers and students to their individual beliefs, faiths and opinions shall be respected. In addition, teachers and students shall be expected to respect the beliefs, faiths and
Newly appointed Mt. Kisco Elementary School principal Estrella Lopez.
opinions of others, and teachers shall con-duct their classes in this spirit."
Another section states that "teachers shall conduct their classes for the sole purpose of educating those in their charge" and that "teachers shall not use their positions to indoctrinate students in matters of faith or belief and shall not compel students to serve a cause or organization beyond the school system.
"Whether or not a teacher is exercising improper influence over students is a question of fact and is not to be inferred solely from his or her beliefs, opinions or associations," the policy states.
Almost all of the language and principles in the policy are the same as the one previously adopted by the board in 1958, following "the McCarthy era," Ms. Sullivan said, with the exception that now students rights are specifically protected.
Catholic Mel Comberiati was the only school board member to vote against adoption of the revised policy, saying that he thought it unwise for the board to get into too much detail about what it wished to preclude from the curriculum.
Newly-elected school board member Catholic Joseph Whelan, who does not take his seat on the board until July, also objected that not enough notice had been given to the public for discussion of the subject.
In other action, Estrella Lopez, the director of bilingual education and English as a Second Language Technical Assistance Center of the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services, was appointed to be the new principal of the Mount Kisco Elementary School.
Her appointment to the $98,500 per year post was approved by the school board unanimously. Ms. Lopez, who has served at BOCES for the last 10 years, has 16 years of experience as a teacher and administrator.
She received a bachelor's degree in 1975 from Dowling College and a master's degree and administrator's professional diploma from C.W. Post College in 1980.
The appointment was a point of contention in the recent school budget election. The schools administration announced that it would have to hold the job offer in abeyance until after the budget was passed, since a contingency budget would have capped the amount of money that was avail-able for administrative purposes.
Also at the meeting, outgoing school board president Paul Alcorn was recognized for his "leadership and dedicated service" as a member of the board for three years and president for the last 15 months. A short reception was held in his honor.
Teacher appointments
Teacher appointments were announced at the meeting, including:
 | Gina Gonzales, who was appointed to be a leave replacement bilingual education teacher at the kindergarten grade level at a salary of $47,902 until June 30, 2001; |
| Minda Lees, who was appointed to be a leave replacement teacher at the first grade level at a salary of $54,352 until June 30, 2001; and |
| Cheryl Ohmeis, who was appointed to be a fourth grade teacher at a salary of $47,659. |
| Kathryn Vignola, who was appointed to be a leave replacement teacher in foreign language at a salary of $45,271 until June 30, 2001. |
| Alison Nalibow Smith, a foreign language teacher at Fox Lane High School, was granted a leave of absence without pay until June 30, 2001. |
The board also accepted the resignation of Lisa Barocas, a special education teacher at the West Patent Elementary School, effective June 30.
Almost all leaves of absence are granted to teachers for maternity leaves, according
to Catholic James Alloy, aassistant superintendent and director of personnel. There has been a 60 percent turnover on the teaching staff in the last seven years, with many older teachers retiring and being replaced by young married teachers, he said.
Teachers are entitled to take up to three years unpaid leave and can receive up to 12 weeks of medical benefits, if they are untenured, he said.
Teaching excellence
Also honored at the school board meeting for their excellence in teaching were Danette Willeford, a kindergarten teacher at Bedford Hills Elementary School; Nancy DeLorenzo, a first grade teacher at Mount Kisco Elementary School; and Lori Merfogel and Corrine Videla, a kindergarten team teachers at West Patent Elementary School.
Phyllis Cohen was also honored for her work as a volunteer at Bedford Hills Elementary School and Fox Lane middle and high schools.
All were winners of the Hugh McMillan Education Excellence Award presented by the Community Education Foundation. Each receives $500 to be used to support their student-directed programs and their names are added to a plaque that hangs in the central administrative office.
The foundation is a volunteer organization dedicated to the support of enriching programs in the communities of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Mount Kisco and Pound Ridge. The award is named after Hugh McMillan of Bedford Village for his "inspiration and years of dedication in sup-port of excellence in our school district," according to Allan Cohen, foundation co-president.
There were 21 nominations for the award this year that were evaluated by an independent committee including Virginia Barton, John Finch, Hope Levine, the Rev. Rufus Strother, Lois Vetare and Mr. McMillan.
Board actions
The school board voted to transfer $800,000 from the excess revenues and undesignated fund balance to the general fund to cover $600,000 in health claims and $200,000 in legal fees that were not covered by this year's budget allotments.
The board also accepted a gift of $5,432 from the Pound Ridge Elementary School Association for the purchase of stage curtains.