School Board Elections and Other News

In Irvington, incumbent Robyn Kerner is running for her second, three-year term against first-time candidate John Dawson. In the Tarrytown district, there are three candidates for two seats: Marc Kirschner is not running again while incumbent Sheila Conklin will run for re-election against challengers Michele Gonzalez of Sleepy Hollow and Katharine Swibold of Tarrytown.

Additional changes are already under way in the Tarrytown district, which recently appointed Elizabeth Lopez as Sleepy Hollow Middle School principal, Elizabeth Law as director of pupil personnel services and John Staiger as assistant superintendent for business, for the 2008-09 school year, all to begin July 1.

Lopez replaces Chris Borsari, middle school principal for the past two years, who has accepted a position as high school principal at Byram Hills. Lopez has worked as a middle school English teacher and principal in New York City and most recently was a senior achievement facilitator for 23 New York City schools.

Law, currently an assistant superintendent for pupil services in the Poughkeepsie City School District, has served as chairperson of a special education committee, assistant director for pupil services and director of special education. Staiger, who replaces soon-to-retire Andrew LaBella, comes to the district with more than 20 years of experience as a school business administrator.

Irvington residents will also have an opportunity to vote for — or against — the EXCEL proposition, which would entitle the district to $627,781 in state funding for school improvement projects. Upgrades planned for each of the district’s buildings depends on the measure passing.

Irvington residents will vote May 20 at Main Street School; Sleepy Hollow at Morse  School and Tarrytown residents at Washington Irving School.