May 13, 2016

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CityREVIEW NewRochelle May 13, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 11 | www.cityreviewnr.com

4 for 2 seats in city school board race By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter

We’ve Got Spirit!

The Thornton-Donovan cheerleading squad visited Growing Minds of New York day care center in New Rochelle on March 8 to cheer on the toddlers. For more, see page 3. Photo courtesy Angela M. Tudisco

Lead tests show trouble water at Davis Elementary School By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter In the wake of reports of contaminated drinking water in some Newark, New Jersey schools in March 2016, City School District of New Rochelle Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne ordered water testing at all 11 school campuses. That testing, conducted on March 23 and 29, was all clear, except for one drinking fountain at George M. Davis Elementary School. An April 8 retesting of lead contamination levels at George M. Davis Elementary School showed that five drinking foun-

tains in the east wing of the 64-year-old building registered over the 20 parts per billion action level set by the Environmental Protection Agency. “We’ll supply bottled water in that wing of the building until we are satisfied that we’ve identified the source of the lead and have taken actions that will minimize the levels,” Osborne said. “Testing is ongoing.” The one fountain at Davis that triggered further testing was initially measured at 47.2 parts per billion; however, once a 30-second flushing protocol was used, water from the cooler tested at 3.14 parts per billion.

Regular use of flushing protocols for drinking fountains in the morning before students arrive is one short-term solution to lead contamination, but Osborne said he thought it would be best to put “student safety first” and shut off the drinking water supply. In its report to the school district, Louis Berger, the professional services corporation that conducted the testing, suggested several solutions to the contamination at Davis. Berger recommended replacing ceramic-type drinking fountains that could have lead-lined basins and cleaning all faucet aerators. In the long term, the re-

port suggested making a detailed plumbing profile that would include tracing out the first floor plumbing line that feeds the classrooms near the affected fountains. In some cases, those lines turn out to be lead, the report stated. Osborne said the district will continue to test the water at Davis and that no decisions had yet been made on how to proceed long term. Ironically, public schools in New York are not required to test drinking water and provide proof of lead levels at any time. lead continued on page 11

On Tuesday, May 17, voters will head to the polls to vote on the City of New Rochelle School District $250 million budget for 2016-2017, a $106 million bond to renovate and repair 11 schools, and a slate of four Board of Education candidates running for two open seats. Incumbent school board member Rachel Relkin is seeking re-election for her second term, while Naomi Brickel’s five-year term is up on June 30. Brickel is not running for reelection. Competing for those two seats in addition to Relkin are Todd Kern, James O’Toole and Vincent Malfetano. Malfetano, 66, may be the best known of the three new candidates. He ran for the board once before in 1983 but dropped out a few days before the vote to endorse fellow candidate Mary Jane Reddington. A longtime community gadfly and now retired, Malfetano taught special education in New York City schools for 33 years working with court-sentenced juveniles. During his teaching career, he earned a law degree at Pace University. His older children graduated from the New Rochelle schools and he now has two younger children, including a daughter at Jefferson Elementary School. His major concern running for a position on the school board is

maintenance. “Unfunded maintenance over the years is due to the negligence of the board, and now we have to borrow [$106 million] in order to cover up their negligence,” he said. While he demurred when asked if he supports the upcoming bond vote, Malfetano said he is in favor of “fixing the schools.” Security in the schools is another issue that concerns him. He said that armed retired New Rochelle police officers should protect the schools. “The school safety regimen needs to be more robust,” he said. First-time candidate Kern is pleased with the progress that Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne has made during his two years on the job. “This is an exciting time for the schools,” he said. “Things are going in the right direction and there’s a lot of energy going toward improving every aspect of the schools,” adding that he supports the $106 million bond. Kern, 43, and his wife Caroline have lived in New Rochelle for 12 years. Their two children both attend Albert Leonard Middle School and their son will start New Rochelle High School in the fall. Kern has been a member of the board of directors at the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence since 2013. If elected, he plans to only serve one five-year term on the board. Kern’s company 2Revolutions consults with teachers, RACE continued on page 7

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