Informational Guidebook

Introduction 

The YCSD Information Guidebook for the 2026-2027 school year contains important information for parents and guardians. Included in the online booklet is information on Emergency Dismissals and Closings, Community Involvement, Homework, Parent Support, School Admissions, Immunizations, School Phone Directories and much more. Use this online document as your reference throughout the school year.

The Yorktown Central School District continues to invest in a variety of paperless initiatives designed to improve communication, provide added convenience to parents and guardians, reduce costs and protect the environment. Our goal of providing needed information still remains strong.

The 2026-2027 School Calendar can be accessed here.

Follow the links listed in this guidebook to access additional information and visit yorktown.org for additional information and resources.

District Mission Statement

The Mission of the Yorktown Central School District is to provide a comprehensive learning experience that emphasizes the education of the whole child. We will achieve our mission by:

• Providing students with the knowledge, skills, values and attitude that they need to be competent, contributing and compassionate world citizens

• Valuing diversity and global consciousness

• Emphasizing personal responsibility, growth and development to maximize individual group potential

• Developing an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and making good choices

• Encouraging moral conscience, promoting self-respect and demonstrating respect for others

• Fostering creativity, entrepreneurship and a deep appreciation for the arts

Core Beliefs

• We educate the whole child so that he/she can be a caring and competent citizen who can make a difference in the community, country and world.

• We provide a safe, welcoming and orderly environment which fosters a climate for the emotional, social and intellectual success of all members.

• We contribute to the development of each child's ownership of personal behaviors.

• We model and instill a lifelong love of learning.

• We believe that the home, the school and the community should partner to enhance the growth and development of every learner.

• We respect and embrace diversity in all of its forms, believing strongly that everyone matters.

Board of Education Board of Education Trustees 

The following community volunteers serve three-year terms on the Board of Education: 

• Lisa Rolle, President (term expires 6/30/2028)

• Reshmi Bose, Vice President (term expires 6/30/2028)

• Peter Bisaccia, Trustee (term expires 6/30/2027)

• Jacquelyn Guarino, Trustee (term expires 6/30/2029)

• Adam MacDonald, Trustee (term expires 6/30/2027)

• Michael Magnani, Trustee (term expires 6/30/2029)

• Cheryl Reynolds, Trustee (term expires 6/30/2028)

Board of Education meetings are held on Monday evenings in the Mildred E. Strang Middle School cafeteria, unless otherwise noted. Specific dates for all meetings are indicated in the online calendar. The public is invited to attend all regular business meetings, special meetings, and work sessions. 

Access to Information Before and After Board of Education Meetings

Agendas, minutes, supporting documentation, and archives for meetings are available on the BoardDocs eGovernance System. Board of Education meetings are recorded for the community.  Shortly after each work session and business meeting, videos are also made available on the District's YouTube channel and the two local public access television stations on YCSD-TV on Cablevision Channel 18 and Verizon FIOS Channel 27. YCSD also produces many school videos for the community including performing and visual arts, athletics and academic activities.

2026-2027 Board of Education Goals

The Board of Education maintains each of the following broad goals as a strategic point of focus for the Superintendent and the Administrative Team to develop an Action Plan for the new school year. Two times during the year, the plan's goals, the steps taken toward achieving those goals and the evidence that the goals have been achieved are publicly presented and discussed at Board meetings. 

Board Goal I - Education Program 

Continuously improve the caliber, content and assessment of instruction through the regular renewal of curriculum and pedagogy to ensure increased rigor through an articulated and relevant K-12 curriculum. The instructional program will reflect the new proficiency standards for the purpose of raising student achievement. 

Board Goal II - Fiscal Planning

Continue to develop a fiscally responsible budget that balances the obligation to provide the best possible education to the children of the YCSD with the obligation to be fiscally responsible to the District’s taxpayers.

Board Goal III -  Human Resources

Continually provide specialized guidance and advice to build a team of the best and brightest professionals to contribute to the optimal learning experiences for our students. The goal of the Human Resources function is to develop, support, encourage, and enable staff to build capacity.  

Board Goals IV - Communications 

Promote collaboration among parents, school and community through proactive, ongoing and open communication by aligning messages about  key initiatives and programs, and engaging stakeholders in two-way communication.

Board Goal V - Facilities 

Continue to implement a systematic process to ensure ongoing improvement and proactive maintenance of the district’s buildings, grounds and capital assets in an expeditious and fiscally responsible manner. 

Board Goal VI - Technology 

Continue to implement technology infrastructure advancements that support instruction to maximize teaching and learning. Continue to develop efficiencies and to respond to NYSED mandates.

Recommended Chain of Communication  

The Board of Education recognizes the right of community members to register individual or group concerns regarding instruction, district programs, materials, operations, and/or staff members. The main goal of the District is to resolve such concerns specifically with the parties involved, whenever possible. 

The Board believes that complaints and grievances are best handled and resolved as close to their origin as possible and that the staff should be given every opportunity to consider issues and attempt to resolve problems prior to Board involvement. Therefore, the proper channeling of complaints will be as follows: 

1. Teacher or staff member,

2. Assistant Principal or Principal,

3. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,

4. Superintendent of Schools, and

5. Board of Education.

The Board will not act on complaints that have not been explored at the appropriate level. Exceptions will be made only when complaints concern Board action or Board operations. Complaints about Board of Education policies should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent shall review any complaint and conduct whatever study or investigation he/she deems appropriate.

All matters referred to the Superintendent and/or the Board should be in writing signed by the complainant. Concerns registered directly to the Board as a whole or to an individual Board member shall be referred as soon as is reasonably possible to the Superintendent for investigation, report and/or resolution. 

Please click here for the full text of all Board of Education policies.

Admission to School  

Your child may be admitted to kindergarten in September if his/her 5th birthday occurs on or before December 1 of that same year. In other words, the child must be no less than 4 years and 9 months of age by September 1 of the school year. All other grades please follow the same procedures and contact the Office of Enrollment/Transportation.

Registration for kindergarten is an ongoing process. You may register online or call the Office of Enrollment/Transportation at 914-243-8016.

Once you are registered, you will be contacted for screenings. After screenings, you will be contacted by email and will receive more information regarding the registration process. If you have a child entering kindergarten in September and do not receive notification by mid-March, please call the Enrollment/Transportation office for more information.

All new entrants to school are required to submit proof of age and residence. For proof of age, you must submit an original birth certificate.  All other documents needed are on the online registration portal.

For more helpful information please visit the Enrollment/Transportation websites.

Immunizations

In accordance with Public Health Law Section 2164, the Board of Education requires that all students in the Yorktown Central School District receive the immunizations as outlined in the attached chart. Please be aware that these are minimum requirements. Please consult your healthcare provider or school nurse for the NYS Department of Health recommended schedule of immunizations.

To meet the requirements of the law, the parent/person in parental relation to each child must furnish the school with a certificate signed by a healthcare provider (physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner) stating the immunizations have been completed or a certificate from a physician licensed to practice medicine in New York State stating in a specific manner that one or more of the immunizations may be detrimental to the child’s health, the reason it may be detrimental and the length of time for the contraindication. 

All documentation must be presented upon admission. If such documentation is not presented, the student shall not be permitted to enroll in school. The only exception is if the student has received at least the first dose in each immunization series required by law, together with proof that age-appropriate appointments have been made for the child to receive the additional vaccinations in each immunization series.

2026-2027 New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance

Here is a link to School Immunization Requirements for the 2026-2027 school years based on NYSDOH amended regulations. Students need to be immunization compliant to attend school. Physicals are also required for all new entrants to the district and in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 within 30 days of school entrance.

Student Registration and Residency Determinations

Information and forms relating to the enrollment of students in the District can be obtained on the District’s website at: Transportation Site and Enrollment Site

Student Grade Promotion and Retention

The District’s policy regarding student grade promotion and retention is available on the District’s website at the following link: Student Promotion and Retention Policy 4750.

Access to School District Records

Requests for information that the District makes available according to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) should be addressed to the District Clerk.

Asbestos Management Plan

In accordance with federal law, the District has in place a management plan to identify and manage asbestos building materials. The Asbestos Management Plan is on file and available for review in the District Office during regular business hours. Please call for an appointment.

Pesticide Application Notice

The District is required by law to maintain a list of staff and persons in parental relation who wish to receive forty-eight (48) hour prior written notification of pesticide applications at relevant facilities.

To register and be on the list, please fill out a pesticide notification form, which can be found online here or in the main office at each school building. 

School Lunch 

MySchoolBucks.com POS Meal System

MySchoolBucks is an electronic Point-of-Sale (POS) meal system in all schools. You can visit MySchoolBucks to create an account for online prepayment; cash and checks will still be accepted as well. For questions, please contact the Food Service Director, at 914-243-8050, ext. 11891. 

The first student meal is free. School lunch prices for additional ala carte meals are as follows:  

• Brookside - $3.15

• Mohansic - $3.15

• Crompond - $3.15

• MESMS - $4.25

• YHS - $4.25

Free and Reduced Lunch

The Yorktown Central School District, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, offers either a free lunch or a reduced price lunch to children whose family income falls within the Family Income Scale established annually by the government. Applications are available at the principal’s office and on the District website. Students who meet the eligibility guidelines are entitled to one complete breakfast (MS/HS only) and one lunch daily (all schools).  

Lunch at School

Information about the school breakfast and lunch program, including the District Wellness Policy and monthly menus, is available by visiting the Health and Wellness section of the website. 

Charging School Meals - Payment Policy

The Board recognizes that, on occasion, students may not have enough funds to pay for a meal.  To ensure that students do not go hungry, as well as to promote responsible student behavior and minimize the fiscal burden to the District, the Board will allow students that do not have enough funds to “charge” the cost of meals to be paid back at a later date subject to the terms in this school policy 8505.

Attendance Policy

The District believes that regular school attendance and student success have a direct correlation. It is the intent of the District to strongly encourage students to be in attendance every day. Therefore, our goal is to have students participate in their education for the mandated 180 days a year.  All children of compulsory attendance age (6 through the school year in which a child turns 16) must attend school on a regular basis.

In the case of a student's absence from school, parents are required to call the main attendance office at their school by the start of the school day to inform them of the reason for the student's absence. Otherwise, the school will make a reasonable attempt to contact the parents regarding the student's absence. Comprehensive Attendance Policy 5100 

Please note that a written excuse must be provided and brought to the attendance office by the student upon his/her return to school. Without a note, the student's absence from school is deemed unexcused.

English Language Learners

Within 30 days of the start of the school year, parents of English Language Learner (ELL) students will be notified if their child is participating in, or identified as eligible for English-as-a-New Language (ENL) instruction. Parents will also be notified within two weeks after placement, if their child is placed in such a program or will receive such services after the beginning of the school year. In addition, parents will be advised of their rights, including their right to challenge their child’s placement. 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

As required under FERPA, the District would like to inform parents/guardians, and students 18 years of age or older currently in attendance, of their right to:

• inspect and review their child's education records,

• request that records be amended to ensure that they are accurate and not misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights, and

• control disclosures from the student's education records, with certain exceptions. 

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)/No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Parental Notifications

Pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, the successor to the No Child Left Behind Act, parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers and teaching assistants including:

• Whether state requirements and licensing criteria have been met for the grade level and subject area being taught.

• If the teacher is working under emergency or other provisional status under which state qualification and licensing criteria have been waived.

• The teacher’s college major and subsequent advanced degrees.

• Qualifications of any teaching assistants providing services to your child.

• If an uncertified teacher will be working in a classroom for four or more weeks.

Requests for the above information may be directed to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Deirdre Amerling, at 914-243-8000.

Parents Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

Pursuant to Sections 2-c and 2-d of the Education Law, parents and students are entitled to certain protections regarding confidential student information as set forth below:

1. A student's personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any commercial purposes;

2. Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child's education record;

3. The District is committed to implementing safeguards associated with industry standards and best practice under state and federal laws protecting the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls, and password protection when data is stored or transferred;

4. A complete list of all student data elements collected by the State is available for public review at this link or by writing to Information & Reporting Services, Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234; and

5. Parents have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Deirdre Amerling, at 914-243-8000.

6. If appropriate: The District has, directly and indirectly through the Superintendent of Schools, entered into contracts with certain third party contractors who have been sent student data and/or teacher data and/or principal data. The following information about such contractors will be posted on the District website, as required by law:

   • The names of the third party contractors, the exclusive purpose(s) for which the data will be used;

   • The commencement and termination dates of each such agreement;

   • A description of how the data will be disposed by the contractor when the contract purpose has been fulfilled;

   • The data storage and security measures undertaken.

7. Agreements with third party contractors/consultants will ensure that the subcontractors, persons or entities that the third party contractor/consultant will share the student data or teacher or principal data with, if any, will abide by data protection and security requirements.

8. A parent, student, eligible student, teacher or principal may challenge the accuracy of the student data or teacher or principal data that is collected by filing a written request with the Superintendent of Schools or his administrative designee, by sending a written challenge to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Deirdre Amerling at 914-243-8000. Link to Parents Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

Access to Student Records

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), parents and students over 18 years of age have the right to inspect and review the student‘s records or request an amendment of records believed to be incorrect. They can also withhold consent on disclosure of personally identifiable information, except in cases where the law allows for disclosure without consent. 

Educational Records

Parents have the right to ask for and review records about their child unless the District has been legally notified in writing that their rights as a parent have been terminated or otherwise limited by court order. Upon the parents' request, the District must make a child's records available within a reasonable time; in no case more than 45 calendar days after requested; before any meeting about their child's individualized education program (IEP); and before any due process hearing about their child's special education needs.

The rights of parents concerning educational records transfer to students at age 18. However, the District may disclose educational records to an eligible student’s parents if the student is claimed as a dependent for Federal income tax purposes by either parent, without the student’s consent.

Student records and or student record information may not be released without a parent's consent unless it is given to school officials, including BOCES or private school officials or district consultants and agents (e.g., school physician, school attorney, insurance company, service provider and/or evaluators) with a legitimate educational interest, state/local educational authorities or certain individuals designated under federal law; or otherwise as permitted by law (FERPA). 

Student Privacy Rights

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) of NCLB affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with regard to student surveys, instructional materials, physical examinations or screenings, and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information. The District will provide you the specific or approximate dates during the school year when any of the following are scheduled or expected to be scheduled:

1.  Activities involving the collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or selling that information;

2. The administration of any survey containing one or more of the items in the PPRA.

3.  Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a condition of attendance, administered by a school and scheduled by the school in advance, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student and/or other students.

You will have the opportunity to exclude your child from participating in any of the above activities, by notifying the District in writing.  Please call or contact the principal of your child’s school if you have questions about this notice.

Release of Information to Military Recruiters

Federal law requires that school districts disclose to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our high school students. However, parents or students may request, in writing, that the District NOT release such information to military recruiters and/or institutions of higher learning. Parents, or students who are at least 18 years old, may exercise the option to withhold their consent to release this information by contacting the high school principal’s office or using the following form: Link to Military Recruitment Information Release Opt-Out Form

Disclosure To Military Recruiters

The District must disclose to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of high school students. The District must also notify parents of their rights, and the rights of their child, to request that the District not release such information without prior written parental consent. Parents wishing to exercise their option to withhold their consent to the release of the above information to military recruiters and/or institutions of higher learning must sign and return a notification to the school principal by October 1 of the current school year. 

Student Directory Information

The District releases certain types of neutral student information also known as “Directory Information.”  The District has designated the following types of information “directory” in nature (For example:  name, address, phone number, etc.). Under FERPA, parents may object in writing to the release of that information. Link to FERPA Annual Notice

Paperless Initiatives

The Yorktown Central School District continues to invest in a variety of paperless initiatives designed to improve communication, provide added convenience to parents and guardians, reduce costs, and protect the environment. 

There are three primary communication systems:

1) eSchoolData Parent and Student Portal (eSD)

Our district uses a secure student management system called eSchoolData (eSD). Every parent is expected to enroll and have an account to access confidential information about his/her child(ren), including report cards for students in grades K-12. 

Students in grades 6-12 can have accounts to access the Student Portal. Gradebook and attendance information will be made available through the portal as well. If you used the eSD Parent Portal in the past, you will continue to use the same login credentials this year. Please refer to the District and building website for the latest information regarding the eSD Parent Portal and the User Guide and Technical Requirements documentation. For further information, please contact the main office of your child’s school.

2) Mass Notification System 

School administrators schedule and send voice, email and text message alerts to all parents/guardians and staff. This is used, along with our websites, as the primary means of communicating time-sensitive notices including closings and delays. At the beginning of each school year, every parent/guardian will be required to verify this contact information. If this information associated with your child is incorrect, you may not receive these notices. 

3) G Suite for Education 

All students have Google accounts that will be used for the entirety of their time in the District, to be used per the Responsible Use Policy. All are encouraged to learn and model good digital citizenship practices. 

Regarding Email

Regarding outbound emails (staff to community): Please unblock the filters in your email to allow messages from emails ending in @yorktown.org, otherwise you may not receive important emails from district staff. It is incumbent upon the parent/guardian user to manage and operate his/her computer or handheld device, web, email access, and basic web functionality, including maintaining current versions of standard web software, i.e. Adobe Reader. Otherwise, limited or no access to information is possible.

Home Instruction/Tutoring

The District provides students with home instructors/tutors, if his/her doctor anticipates that the student will be absent from school for at least 10 consecutive school days. It may be necessary for the school doctor to verify your child’s illness. The home instructor is responsible for keeping your child at the pace of the class so that his/her return to school is made easier. Call the school nurse or guidance counselor for more information. 

Health & Wellness

The District’s wellness committee oversees, addresses, and recommends student wellness issues relative to policy and regulations. The committee reviews the nutritional quality of foods and beverages sold and served on campus.  The Wellness Program runs throughout the school year and involves students, staff and community. Please visit the  Health & Wellness website for complete information regarding the District’s Wellness Policy #5405 and #5405R.

Health Services

The role of the school nurse is to serve as an integral member of the support team working with students and staff on issues involving health. As the liaison between the home, the school and the greater community, the school nurse works to integrate all students into the school program and for that reason, depends on parents to share information on health problems involving their children. 

Each of the schools has the services of a registered professional nurse who maintains health records for each child, administers first aid, assesses students with symptoms of illness or infection, and acts as a resource person for teachers, students, and parents. The school nurse also screens students for height, weight, vision, hearing and scoliosis as per State guidelines, and informs parents when students need follow-up care. 

Students are not permitted to self-administer medicine. If medication is required to be given during school hours, it must be brought to the Nurse's Office in the original container with written authorization and instructions from the physician and permission from the parent. This applies to all medications - prescription and over the counter medications.

If a student is self-directed, a special physician order and parent/guardian permission is needed in order for a student to carry and use medications that require rapid administration to prevent negative health outcomes. Emergency medications would be: Epinephrine Auto Injector; Inhaled Respiratory Medication; Insulin/Glucagon/Diabetes Supplies. All forms should be submitted to the school nurse. Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the school nurse. Link to school nurses’ website

Education Law and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require physical examinations for children when they enter the School District for the first time and in grades 2, 4, 7, and 10. Each student’s exam must include a BMI (body mass index) done by your child’s physician. A report of the child’s examination shall be submitted by the person in parental authority at the time of entrance, signed by a physician or a mid-level practitioner (nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant) and must have been completed within 90 days of its presentation to the school. If a physical examination report is not submitted, the parent will be notified and a plan will be worked out with the school nurse to comply with this regulation. The child will be examined through the school health services, if necessary. 

Parents are encouraged to use the services of their family physician or mid level practitioner because he/she can perform a more comprehensive examination, and because he/she is more familiar with your child’s health history. A regular schedule of immunizations, physical, dental and visual check-ups should be maintained by every family. All medical and dental appointments should be made after school hours whenever possible. 

Each year parents/guardians review information for the District to notify in the event of an emergency. With this information on hand, school officials will take the proper emergency steps whenever a child is incapacitated by accident or illness. Please notify the school nurse at your child’s school of any changes which occur during the school year.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison

All programs and services of the District are available to homeless students and unaccompanied youth.  Whenever a homeless child or unaccompanied youth seeks to enroll in the District, and at least twice annually while the child is enrolled, the parent and child will be informed of their rights. Some of these rights include the right to attend the school they previously attended or to attend school in the District of current location, the right to be enrolled even though the admission requirements have not been completed and prior student records are not available, and the right to transportation to and from school.  The District's McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison is Penny Jones.

Wellness Policy

The District is committed to developing healthy schools that support student learning and create an environment conducive to the health and well-being of faculty, staff and all students, while also supporting parents in accomplishing this goal. To that end, the Board of Education has adopted a policy that addresses: nutritional standards of foods and beverages sold on school grounds; physical education; extra-curricular activities; recess; emotional wellness; staff wellness; nutrition education and student awareness; community wellness and knowledge; and health education. 

Link to District Wellness Policy

Student Health Data

Because New York State is interested in child health data, schools are required to record students’ height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). If our district is surveyed by the state, we will only share group data (for instance, the number of second grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile), not individual data. However, if parents wish their child’s data to be excluded from such group calculations, they may do so by contacting their school nurse.

Parents/Guardians at School

An appointment must be made in advance with your child’s teacher, counselor, and/or with the principal whenever parents or guardians wish to come to school during the school day. Parents or guardians may make any suggestions and inquiries at the second public comment portion of each Board of Education meeting. Parents/guardians are also urged to meet with their children’s teachers at annual back-to-school orientation evenings planned by each building in early fall. 

Accommodations for Parents/Guardians with Special Needs

It is District policy to ensure access for parents/guardians with special needs to school-initiated conferences and activities designed for parent involvement and directly related to their children's academic or disciplinary progress. Parents/guardians requesting accommodations (i.e. translators, sign language interpreters, barrier-free site, etc.) to participate in these meetings and/or activities are requested to notify, in writing, the Office of the Superintendent at the beginning of the school year, or at the time of enrollment. A form for services will be sent to be completed and returned. For each activity, the District must be notified at least 10 school days prior to the scheduled meeting or activity. These provisions do not extend to extra-curricular activities.

Special Transportation Requests

Parents requesting permanent bus passes for their children to ride a bus other than the one to which they are normally assigned, or who are requesting a modification of transportation due to medical conditions not covered through the Committee on Special Education, are reminded to submit their request in writing to the Assistant Superintendent for Business, 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Questions regarding transportation can be directed to the Transportation Office at 914-243-8016. 

Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA)

Annual Notice and Parent/Eligible Student Rights

Parents and/or eligible students have a right to:

a. inspect and review the student’s education records; 

b. limit the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education records except: 

1) by prior written consent of the student’s parent(s) or the eligible student; 

2) by use of digital assessment tools such as www.turnitin.com; 

3) as directory information (see below); or

4) under certain limited circumstances, as permitted by FERPA (e.g., to school officials with a legitimate educational interest, to another school in which the student is attempting to enroll; certain audit purposes): 

c. request that records be amended to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation  of the student’s privacy or other rights; 

d. file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education alleging failure of the District to comply with FERPA and its regulations; and 

e. obtain copies of this policy and the locations where copies may be obtained. If you would like to review your student(s) records, please contact the building principal(s). 

Directory Information - Disclosure 

The School District may from time to time disclose “directory information” which is neutral information from the education records of present or former students, including the student’s name, address, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, diplomas and awards received, the most recent previous school attended by the student, and any other school at present being attended by the student. Other information will only be released with the consent of the parent of a student under 18, or a student who is 18 or older or otherwise permitted by FERPA. A parent or eligible student may refuse to permit the disclosure of any or all of the information set forth above as “directory information.” 

The Superintendent must be informed in writing by October 1 of each school year, at his office at 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, by a parent or eligible student that such information, or some part of it, may not be used as directory information with respect to that student. Such notice shall be effective only during the academic year in which it is given.

Title I Parent/Family Engagement-District Level Policy

Under federal law, school districts receiving federal Title I funds must adopt a written parent/family engagement policy that is developed jointly with, agreed on with, and distributed to, parents of participating children and is incorporated into the District’s Title I plan.  Link to Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy 1900. 

Code of Conduct

The Board of Education, in accordance with Project SAVE Legislation, has adopted a Code of Conduct for the District and for each of the schools in the District. The Code of Conduct governs the conduct of students, teachers, staff and visitors, and is meant to help maintain safe, orderly schools. The Code of Conduct and age-appropriate plain English versions of the Code of Conduct are sent to parents and shared with students each year during the month of September. The Code of Conduct is also available on the District’s website, at each school and is published in each school’s handbook. Link to District Code of Conduct

Computer Responsible Use Policy

Please click on the link below to view the full text of the document. 

Link to Policy

The Dignity Act (DASA)

Student Harassment and Bullying Prevention and Intervention 

The Board of Education recognizes that a learning environment that is safe and supportive can increase student attendance and improve academic achievement. A student’s ability to learn and achieve high academic standards, and a school’s ability to educate students, is compromised by incidents of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to bullying, taunting, hazing and intimidation. The District will strive to create an environment free of discrimination and harassment and will foster civility in the schools to prevent and prohibit conduct which is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission.

The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment of students based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex by school employees or students on school property or at school-sponsored events and activities that take place on or off of school property. In addition, any act of discrimination or harassment outside of school-sponsored events which can reasonably be expected to materially and substantially disrupt the educational process may be subject to discipline.

Dignity Act (DASA) Coordinators:

• Districtwide DASA Coordinator — Deirdre Amerling, Caroline Almeida

• Brookside Elementary School —  Joe Cassarini, Dr. Denise Sandor, Alexis Santavicca

• Mohansic Elementary School — Susan Berry, Erin Fromer, Katie Wordsman 

• Crompond Elementary School — Scott Saperstein, Kristen Samet, Eileen Olivieri 

• Mildred Strang Middle School — Marie Horowitz, Michele Copeland, Penny Brabham-Jones 

• Yorktown High School — Joe DeGennaro, Cristina Criscione-McCombs, Justine DiGregorio

Policy #0115

Equal Opportunity

The District hereby advises students, parents, employees and the general public that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, religion, age, economic status, marital status, military status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics or sexual orientation in its educational programs, activities or employment practices and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

This policy of nondiscrimination includes, but is not limited to: (a) access by students to educational programs, counseling services, course offerings, student athletics, student employment assistance, extracurricular activities and other school resources; and (b) recruitment and appointment of employees, as well as their compensation, benefits, opportunities for advancement and/or terminations.

Further, the District, its officers, employees and agents shall not discriminate against students on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex; sexual orientation, or gender (including gender identity and expression).

The following are the District’s Compliance Officers:

• Title IX (sexual harassment/gender or sex based discrimination)

Assist. Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Pupil Personnel Services,
Assist. Superintendent for Business at 914-243-8000.

• Title VII (discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin)

Director of Human Resources, Assist. Superintendent for Business at 914-243-8000.

• Title VI (discrimination based upon race, color, creed, national origin, ethnic group, religion)

Director of Human Resources, Assist. Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction at 914-243-8000 

• Section 504/Title II ADA (disability based discrimination and/or harassment)

Assist. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Human Resources at 914-243-8000.

General Nondiscrimination — questions about this nondiscrimination policy may be directed to the appropriate Compliance Officer. The appropriate compliance officer has information related to grievance procedures. The Board also prohibits any retaliatory behavior against complainants or any witnesses. Any individual who believes that he/she has been subject to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex; sexual orientation, or gender (including gender identity and expression) should report the alleged misconduct immediately, to the appropriate compliance officer, so that corrective action, up to and including discharge of an employee or suspension of a student, may be taken at once.  In the event that the Complaint Officer is the offender, the complainant shall report his/her complaint to the next level of supervisory authority.  The complainant shall not be discouraged from reporting an incident of alleged discrimination or harassment.   In the absence of a victim's complaint, the Board, upon learning of, or having reason to suspect the occurrence of any discrimination or harassment, will ensure that an investigation is promptly commenced by appropriate individuals.  Any person who has knowledge of specific acts that he or she reasonably believes constitutes wrongful conduct should disclose the conduct to the appropriate District official. 

Please see the following policies for additional pertinent information and complaint procedures: 

Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504/ADA, and DASA policy

Professional Staff Qualifications

Strong emphasis is placed on ensuring that districts hire licensed, highly qualified, and well-trained professionals. In Yorktown, all teachers and paraprofessionals working in our Title I funded schools meet these requirements. Nevertheless, parents in our Title I funded schools (K-5) have the right to request the following information concerning their child’s classroom teacher:

• Whether the teacher has met NY State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade level and subject areas he/she teaches;

• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which the State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; 

• The teacher’s college major; 

• Whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of these degrees. 

• Last, if your child receives services from any paraprofessionals, the qualifications of those individuals may also be requested in writing, from the building principal. Any questions concerning these procedures should be directed to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at 914-243-8000. SECTION 3012-d(10) DISCLOSURE TO PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS.

Parents, upon request, may obtain the final quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores, when available, for each of their child’s teachers and the principal of the school building to which their child is assigned for this school year.

Annual Professional Performance Review — In accordance with NYS Education Law 3012-c/3012-d Parents have the right to access the composite APPR score for the teacher(s) and/or Principal of the school building to which their child is assigned during the current school year.

Notice on Disclosure of Student Work

In the course of its instructional program, the Yorktown Central School District may from time to time record, film, photograph, audiotape, or videotape a student, including his/her name, image, likeness, spoken words, work, performance and/or activity, in any form (hereinafter collectively referred to as “work” or “works”), and may display, publish, distribute or exhibit such works or any part thereof for the purpose of and in connection with any material that may be created by the Yorktown Schools, including, posting on the Yorktown Central School District website and/or broadcasting and podcasting on our website and/or television facilities including YCSD-TV Educational Access and its partners for such period of time as the School District shall, in its sole discretion, determine. By permitting your child(ren) to participate in interscholastic athletics and other school activities (such as concerts, theater productions) you understand that such activities are open to the public and the District cannot guarantee that your child’s name, 

likeness, photograph etc. will not be used, displayed or published. 

Publicity-Media Opt-Out Student Images and Work

The Yorktown Central School District is committed to sharing good news regarding student, team and group accomplishments and events throughout the community. The District and schools publish newsletters, photographs, videos, presentations, press releases, and other documents and materials, both in print and on the Internet, where images and names are published. All public events, including meetings, athletics and performances are newsworthy, and students who participate, both as participants or spectators, may be photographed or filmed. Local and national media publish student images and work provided by the District or taken by their own representatives. 

If you do not want the Yorktown Central School District and/or the individual schools to disclose your child’s work, image or likeness as described in the NOTICE ON DISCLOSURE OF STUDENT IMAGES and WORK you must notify the District using the Media Opt-Out Form for Student Images and Work by signing and returning it to the main office of your children’s respective school(s). An Opt-Out form must be submitted annually for each child within the first two weeks of school every new school year. 

Parents who have not filed this form shall be deemed to have consented to the disclosure or display of their student’s work and shall be deemed to have released the Yorktown Central School District and its respective officers, directors, agents and/or employees from and against any and all liability, loss, damage, costs, claims and/or causes of action arising out of or related to their child’s (children’s) participation in any media/news events, including, without limitation, podcasts, television broadcasts, promotional materials or website projects.

PLEASE NOTE: While the District will honor the request of any parent who has submitted written notification opting their child out of publicity efforts, the District is not responsible for media that covers news happenings, sporting events, or school events.

Special Education/Pupil Services

Committee on Special Education (CSE) 

The Yorktown Central School District is required by law to have a Committee on Special Education (CSE) which has the responsibility to identify students with educational disabilities and to recommend special education programs and/or related services for them. Remedial and building support services are available to all eligible students in our District. Students suspected of having an educational disability may be referred to the CSE by their parents or by members of the school staff. The referral is made with the parents’ full knowledge and participation in the process from the time the student is suspected of having a disability through the time when the CSE makes its recommendations. 

The CSE is comprised of the following members: a general education teacher (if the student is, or may be, participating in the general education environment), at least one special education teacher, a representative of the School District knowledgeable about the general curriculum and availability of resources, a staff member who can interpret the instructional implications of the evaluation results, and a parent. The presence of a physician and/or the presence of a parent of a student who has been classified by the Committee can be made available at the meeting upon prior request. 

Based on evaluations and educational reports, the CSE will determine if there are significant weaknesses that impact classroom performance. The CSE must determine eligibility for special education services based on one of the following disability classifications: autism, deafness, deaf blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, learning disability, intellectual disability, multiple disability, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, speech language impairment, traumatic brain injury or visual impairment including blindness. If eligible, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed. 

The Committee on Special Education makes all recommendations to the Board of Education for services and/or programs for students with disabilities. If the District is unable to provide appropriate programs and support for students with disabilities, then placements can be made in out-of-district programs, which may include classes in neighboring school districts, BOCES programs, State approved day schools, or State approved residential programs. IEP programs and placements are reviewed annually, and appropriate recommendations made. 

If the CSE recommends an out-of-district program, the BOE arranges for tuition and/or transportation. As required by New York State Education Department Regulations, at age 15, the District begins its planning for transition services for post-secondary programs and placements.

The CSE meets on a regular basis. Procedures for the CSE can be explained to parents by any one of the following: teachers, building psychologists, guidance counselors, building administrators, and the Assistant Director and Director of Pupil Personnel Services. If you have questions, you may speak with any of the above, or call the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Caroline Almeida at 914-243-8150. You can also write to them at: Office of Pupil Personnel Services, French Hill School, 2051 Baldwin Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. 

Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) 

The School District is responsible for ensuring the provision of evaluations and special education services and/or programs to eligible preschool children. A child must be classified by the CPSE as a preschooler with a disability in order to receive services. 

Parents who have concerns about their preschool child’s development should contact the CPSE Chairperson at 243-8150. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss the specific procedures to follow and to assist with the completion of paperwork. The parents have the right to select, from an approved list, the evaluator of their child. Following the evaluation, a Committee on Preschool Special Education meeting will occur and a recommendation will be made as to whether the child qualifies as a preschool student with a disability. If services are warranted, the CPSE will make such a recommendation at that meeting. The parents have the right, at any time during the process, in writing, to withdraw their request. 

Once in a program, the child will be reviewed annually. When requested, the child could be referred to the District’s CSE to be considered for classification and eligibility for services upon entry into kindergarten.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly called “Section 504,” is a federal law that protects students from discrimination based on disability.  Section 504 assures that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to students without disabilities.  Students may be eligible for evaluation and reasonable accommodations to enable access to educational facilities, programs and services.  To be eligible, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.  If you believe that your child may have a disability and be entitled to reasonable accommodations and/or services, please contact Caroline Almeida, Director of Pupil Personnel  Notice of Section 504 Rights

Homework and Parental Support

The Board of Education believes that homework is appropriate as an application, adaptation or extension of classroom learning experiences. Homework is essential in teaching proper study habits, planning of time and individual responsibility. It is a way of personalizing the instructional program by providing assignments that satisfy or challenge the individual needs, interests and abilities of students. 

The Purpose of Homework

Homework is a way of giving students the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of a skill or understanding of a concept. Homework represents a consistent commitment by the student to the learning objectives established for a grade level, a subject area and/or a particular class. It is an extension of the classroom’s personalized approach to learning.

Types of Assignments

Some homework is assigned for the entire class while other assignments are made in recognition of individual needs, interests and abilities. Homework is not necessarily assigned to all students at the same time or for the same purposes. Assignments can be designed for a variety of outcomes: to teach study-skill discipline, to develop self-motivation and to nurture the desire for further exploration. Homework includes but is not limited to study, thinking, reading and writing assignments.

School Practices

All homework should have a purpose and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. All homework should be introduced and explained within the classroom so that any questions that are raised may be answered prior to the start of the task. Correctly introduced, homework should not require additional instruction.

Homework will be reviewed or discussed or graded (whichever was determined as appropriate when the assignment was given) within a reasonable time after completion. The absence of a response negates the importance of homework and discourages future efforts. 

Suggested Time Allotments

It has always been difficult for the schools to quantify an exact amount of time. Doing so often makes homework “busy work” which it should not be. That difficulty is increased in the secondary schools where more than one teacher is working with students. Communication among teachers about the same students is an important aspect in solving problems related to homework time. This is especially true in teaming. 

If a student is spending an inordinate amount of time on homework or appears to have no assigned work for an extended period of time, you should contact the teacher. As a general practice, assignments are not given for completion over the holidays or school recess unless they are long range assignments for which the student had other opportunities to do the work. Homework should not be assigned for disciplinary purposes. 

Review of Responsibilities for Practices

Teachers and administrators should work together to make homework an integral part of the instructional process through periodic reviews of practices and their results for the individual student and groups of students. The classroom teacher must be responsible for the implementation of homework procedures and practices under the supervision of the building principal. 

Student Responsibility for Homework

Students are responsible for the completion of assigned work in the allotted time and in the manner prescribed. They are responsible for asking questions regarding the work assignment before the time when completed work is due. 

Home Responsibility

Parents should ensure that students have access to the materials necessary for successful completion of the homework and that a routine necessary for the carrying out of homework assignments is established. Parents should be supportive and provide guidance and explanations.

Extra School Help

Teachers’ schedules for extra help will vary. Teachers will post the times they are available for student assistance during the day or after school. It is suggested that secondary students take the initiative and see their teachers for extra help on those days and times as scheduled by the teacher. Should extra help be requested by a teacher and should help be available only at the end of the school day, such help takes precedence over any other school activity or after school employment.

Student Assistance Services

Substance and Alcohol Abuse

Because illegal substances and alcohol are a serious threat to children’s physical and emotional well-being, possession, sale, use, distribution, or being under the influence of these substances in school or on school grounds are prohibited. All relevant facts will be brought to your attention and, in situations involving illegal drugs, to the attention of the local police authorities.

The District staff, in each case, will cooperate with all interested parties and make available its professional services in an effort to aid the student involved, while protecting, at the same time, the interests of the student body and the community. 

The Board of Education will continue to provide up-to-date and effective programs to educate students concerning substance and alcohol abuse and will also support school staff to partner with responsible groups in this endeavor.

Facts You Should Know

A Student Assistance Counselor is available to you and/or your child for guidance and counseling at Yorktown High School at 914-243-8050. 

The Power of Siblings 

• Teens who say their older sibling(s) would be “very angry” if they used marijuana/drugs are at substantially lower risk than teens who think their older sibling(s) would not be “very angry.”

• Teens who think that an older sibling has tried illegal drugs are at 1½ times greater risk of substance abuse than the average teen. 

Parents Who “Host” Lose the Most! (Ohio Parents for Drug-Free Youth) 

• It is illegal to host or allow teen drinking parties in your home. 

• Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of underage persons while on their property. 

• Parents have a duty to monitor parties hosted by their children. 

• Parents can be prosecuted criminally for breaking the law. 

• Parents can face civil liability subjecting them to monetary damages and the loss of personal property. 

• Call Student Assistance Services (SAS) at 914-332-1300 for a planning tips sheet. 

Ten Steps Parents Can Take to Prevent Substance Abuse 

1. Set a good example. 

2. Know your child’s whereabouts, activities and friends. 

3. Eat dinner together regularly. 

4. Set fair rules and hold your child to them. 

5. Be caring and supportive of your child. 

6. Maintain open lines of communication. 

7. Surround your child with positive role models. 

8. Incorporate religion or spirituality into family life. 

9. Learn the signs and symptoms of teen substance abuse and conditions that increase risk. 

10. If problems occur, get help promptly. Call SAS at 914-332-1300. 

For invaluable information about parenting and alcohol/drug use prevention please visit:

Above the Influence, Partnership to End Addiction

Community Involvement

The Yorktown Central School District has a comprehensive plan to bring the school, home, and community closer together through programs and services designed to broaden, enrich and serve the students, staff and community. Unique and innovative in its format and style, the goals are to: 

• Increase community involvement in the schools by reaching out to all levels of the community:  senior citizens, government, business, residents with no children in school, etc; 

• Strengthen communication within the school community, as well as between the District and its residents; 

• Increase community support for the schools; 

• Enhance the number of educational, cultural and recreational programs both in the community and in the schools; 

• Work with other agencies, school districts and civic organizations; 

• Enrich student curriculum by bringing in a variety of local, county and state resources; 

• Develop family oriented activities. 

Programs offered take many forms. These include: a Community Health Fair, Red Ribbon Week, community forums, and activities involving senior citizens to enjoy performing arts events, including Movie Night and Senior Prom. Students are also integrated within the community through visual and performing arts and community service projects.

Senior Citizens And School-Sponsored Events

It is the practice of the District to admit senior citizens who are eligible for Social Security and who reside in the District to all recreational, cultural and social events sponsored by the various schools. (Events sponsored by other organizations utilizing the facilities of the District are not included in this policy). Presentation of a Medicare Card or New York State driver’s license shall serve as valid identification.

Fundraising Activities by Community Groups

If a community group which is recognized by the Board of Education as a school-related organization and plans a fund raising activity which will benefit district students, it must adhere to the policies and practices established by the Board: Policy #1510, found on the district website. There are two types of fund raising projects: those benefiting the students of a specific school building and those benefiting the students in the entire district. A written proposal must be submitted to the principal (building specific project) or to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction  (district-wide) at least 30 days prior to an activity. 

Use of Buildings and Grounds

The Board of Education shares with you the pride in having, utilizing and maintaining adequate school facilities. Residents and non-profit groups may be granted the use of school facilities for a variety of reasons after the school day. For information regarding the use of the District’s buildings and/or fields and for fees and application forms, please call the Facility Use Manager at 914-243-8000, ext.18904, or access the Building & Field Usage website, and/or Policy #1500 and 1500R.

Non-Profit Partners

The Alliance for Safe Kids, Inc. (ASK)

Founded in 2002 and incorporated in 2006, the Alliance shares information on issues of importance, including prom safety, gangs, drug use, and other issues that can lead to harm. Their vision is: a community which - by all sectors working together - has become a safety net providing a safe, nurturing and drug-free environment for our families, whereby all youth can become healthy and productive adults. Reach ASK at 914-736-1450 or via their website.

First Nighters of Yorktown Schools

Organized to support and encourage programs in the performing arts and to provide cultural enrichment for Yorktown students, the First Nighters sponsor a Performing Arts Recognition Awards Night and also recognize outstanding seniors at Senior Awards Night. They meet at the high school on the first or second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m (dates are listed on the online calendar.) For more information, email firstnightersyorktown@gmail.com or visit their website.

The Foundation For Excellence in Yorktown Education

The Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education, founded in 1993, awards grants to educators for developing timely, innovative & creative projects that enrich the educational process. The Foundation exists solely to benefit the students of the Yorktown Central School District and is made up of parents and teachers within the District. Educators in all Yorktown public schools are eligible to submit grant applications annually, which are awarded competitively, based upon quality, educational components and are unfunded within the budget. Projects funded address academic, developmental and social issues specific to the desires and needs in the District. Board of Education approval is required for final grant distribution. The Foundation sponsors a series of fundraising campaigns throughout the year, receiving donations from corporations, local businesses and individuals. Every contribution made is an investment in our children.

The YHS Science Research Foundation

This non-profit organization supports the Science Research program at Yorktown High School with resources that serve to enhance the program. Its objectives are to: 

• Defray ancillary cost of program to students, 

• Provide support infrastructure for school seminars and informal mentoring opportunities, 

• Create mentor connections, 

• Engage corporate sponsorship, 

• Champion the program in the school community and beyond. 

Yorktown Huskers Sports Club

Founded in 1965, the Huskers Club is a valuable adjunct to the Yorktown High School athletic program in supporting all interscholastic athletic programs. Money raised supports purchases that enhance the current programs. Past purchases have included wrestling mats, football sleds, weight room equipment, video and editing equipment, ice machines, team recognition banners, a scoring table and a concession trailer. The Club also helps to sponsor the YHS Senior Athletes Awards Dinner where awards and scholarships are presented to senior student-athletes. The YHS Huskers Club School Store is located across from the cafeteria and at some athletic events. The Huskers Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the high school library (dates are listed on the online calendar). For more information, visit their website.

Parent-Teacher Associations

Yorktown Schools are supported by the Parent-Teacher Association, which celebrated its centennial in 1997. There are seven PTAs in Yorktown. There are five PTAs, one in each school building, and two district-wide PTAs: SEPTA, Special Education Parent Teacher Association, and the District Council PTSA, which serves as a coordinating executive committee whose role is to unite the efforts of the six other PTAs. 

The objectives of the PTA are: 

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and houses of worship;

• To raise the standards of home life; 

• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth; 

• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the training of the child; 

• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts will secure for every child the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education. 

Each PTA operates programs appropriate to the needs and interests of its population. Programs such as  Book Fairs, Back-to-School Celebration, Wee Deliver, Fun Night, Student Newspaper are examples of PTA-sponsored events. 

PTA programs are planned along the broadest possible lines in the schools, and exist to enhance and enrich the daily lives of the students. The PTA does not provide funding for basic education. However, it is within their purview to champion the educational rights of children and youth, and to secure public funding to that end. 

Yorktown SEPTA, is a charter member of the national PTA, and was organized to provide parents, as well as professionals working with special needs children, the opportunity to advocate and network for their children, to provide a supportive environment, geared towards educating and empowering parents and educators alike. SEPTA is a unique resource; it also maintains a resource library at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak for public use. All are welcomed. Monthly meetings are listed in the calendar. 

The PTSA District Council serves as a coordinating executive committee whose role is to unite the efforts of the six independent PTAs in Yorktown. In addition to serving in an advisory capacity, the Council, as its own entity, initiates projects on a district-wide level and addresses issues of general concern in the District. Membership of the Council is made up of unit presidents and delegates as well as the chairpersons of the council’s committee. The unit president and the delegate represent the interest of their unit at Council and report back to their membership on the business of the PTA Council, Westchester District PTA, NY State and National PTA.

All Yorktown PTAs abide by the guidelines and bylaws set forth by New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers which grants their charters. All are non-profit, non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. Meeting dates are listed in this calendar. Yorktown PTA extends a cordial invitation to you to join them and to work with them in achieving these goals. 

Emergency School Closings/Delayed Openings/Early Dismissals

School administration schedules and sends voice, email, and text message alerts to all parents/guardians and staff. This is used, along with our website and social media, as the primary means of communicating time-sensitive notices including closings and delays.

At the beginning of each school year, every parent/guardian will be required to verify this contact information. If this information associated with your child is incorrect, you may not receive these notices. 

If the contact information registered with your child/children is incorrect, you may not receive notices. Please check your contact information. If you need to change phone numbers or email addresses, please contact the respective school official who can change the information in the student management system. 

Important Note: In the event of delayed openings or closings, it is essential for parents who are not going to be home to have another adult available. Parents must be sure that their children know the procedure they are to follow. Please remember the importance of having a backup designee to whom children can go when you are not home and an early dismissal takes place. Students who are not dropped off by the bus because no one is home to receive them will be returned to Brookside or Mohansic Schools. Parents will then be contacted to pick up their children.

School Closings

An automated message will be delivered over the phone, by email and/or text message. Closings and announcements will also be posted on the District website at www.yorktown.org and via radio and television stations as close to 6:00 a.m. as possible.

Delayed Openings

An automated message will be delivered over the phone and by email. Delayed openings and developing updates will also be listed on the District website at www.yorktown.org. Announcements will be made as close to 6:00 a.m. as possible and will include the length of the delay. The delay will pertain to all bus runs scheduled throughout the District, for both public and private school students. For instance, a one-hour delay will mean that all buses will run one hour late. 

When bad weather forces a change in the normal schedule, decisions concerning the operation of the schools can go through four stages: one-hour delay, two-hour delay, three-hour delay and closing. Parents/guardians should continue to monitor for Internet, phone, radio and/or television radio announcements even after receiving the notice of delay. If weather conditions intensify, it may be necessary to change the initial delay to a longer delay or to a closing. Dismissal will be at the regular time, unless otherwise noted. 

As the District cannot provide proper supervision for your children in the schools on days when there is a delayed opening, please do not drop your children off at schools before the designated delayed opening time. 

Early Dismissals

An automated message will be delivered over the phone and by email, via the District Website and through radio and television as early as possible. It is possible that an early dismissal could begin at 9:30 a.m in response to conditions. 

No activity buses will run and all after-school activities will be canceled, unless informed otherwise. 

The following radio and television stations run these announcements: 

Television: Cable News 12

Yorktown School District Directory

Administrative Offices

2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598  

Office:  914-243-8000  Fax: 914-245-5566 

Superintendent, Dr. Ronald Hattar, 243-8001 

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Deirdre Amerling, 243-8006 

Assistant Superintendent for Business, Lisa Sanfilippo, 243-8021 

Director of Human Resources, Jeannette Messina, 243-8017 

Director of Technology, Jennifer Forsberg, 243-8054

Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health, Robert Barrett 243-8070 

Director of Wellness, Laura Tolosi, 243-8084 

District Clerk, Yvette Segal, 243-8199 

Transportation & Registration, Patty Sauber, 243-8016 

Communications Specialist, Brian Marschhauser, 243-8000

Special Education/Pupil Services (CSE/CPSE)

2729 Crompond Road, Building A, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 

Office 914-243-8150  Fax 914-245-0934 

Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Caroline Almeida, 243-8150 

Supervisor of Special Education (Elementary), Dr. Rosa Amendola, 243-8150

Special Education Supervisor (Secondary), Kim Manikas, 243-8150

Facilities

2729 Crompond Road, Building A, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598  

Office 914-243-8013  Fax 914-962-2748 

Director of Facilities, Dennis Verboys, 243-8000 ext. 18910 

Maintenance Foreperson, Daniel Sateriale, 243-8000 ext. 18920

Maintenance Foreperson, Diego Araujo, 243-8000 ext. 18930

Facility Use Manager & French Hill Property Manager, Trish Harris, 243-8000 ext. 18904 

Yorktown High School (Grades 9-12), 7:30 a.m.-1:34 p.m.

2727 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598  

Office 914-243-8050  Fax 914-245-0546 

Principal, Joseph DeGennaro, Opt. 3, Fax 245-0546

Assistant Principal, Cristina Criscione-McCombs, Opt. 8, Fax 245-0546

Assistant Principal, Victoria Garrette, Opt. 8, Fax 245-0546

Assistant Principal, John Gollisz, Opt. 8, Fax 245-0546

Guidance & Counseling, Opt. 4, Fax 245-0546 

Nurse, Opt. 2, Fax 962-8527 

Attendance Office, Opt. 1

Mildred E. Strang Middle School (Grades 6-8), 8:00 a.m.-2:16 p.m. 

2701 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598  

Office 914-243-8100, Fax 914-243-0016 

Principal, Marie Horowitz, Opt. 3,  Fax 243-0174 

Assistant Principal, Michele Copeland, Opt. 8,  Fax 243-0174 

Assistant Principal, Catherine Gomez, Opt. 8,  Fax 243-0174 

Guidance Department, Opt. 4,  Fax 455-2792 

Nurse, Opt. 2,  Fax 245-6438 

Attendance, Opt. 1

Crompond Elementary School (Grades 4-5), 8:15 a.m.-2:50 p.m. 

2901 Manor Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 

Office 914-243-8140 Fax 914-243-0018 

Principal, Scott Saperstein, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0018

Assistant Principal, Kristen Samet, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0018

Nurse/Attendance, Opt. 1,  Fax 455-2794

Brookside Elementary School (Grades K-3), 8:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m. 

2285 Broad Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598  

Office 243-8130  Fax 243-0017 

Principal, Joseph Cassarini, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0017

Assistant Principal, Dr. Denise Sandor, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0017

Nurse/Attendance, Opt.1,  Fax 248-1024

Mohansic Elementary School (Grades K-3), 8:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m.

704 Locksley Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 

Office 243-8160  Fax 243-0019 

Principal, Susan Berry, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0019

Assistant Principal, Erin Fromer, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0019

Nurse/Attendance, Opt. 1, Fax 455-2796 

Opt. 2, Fax 243-0017

Nurse/Attendance, Opt.1,  Fax 248-1024

Mohansic Elementary School (Grades K-3), 8:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m.

704 Locksley Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 

Office 243-8160, Fax 243-0019 

Principal, Susan Berry, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0019

Assistant Principal, Erin Fromer, Opt. 2, Fax 243-0019

Nurse/Attendance, Opt. 1, Fax 455-2796