Clarkstown Schools Staffing Changes

Clarkstown School Board members said Tuesday night they were unwillingly accepting the resignation of Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Professional Development Dr. Valerie Henning-Piedmonte. She will leave the district on June 30 for a position with the Brewster School District.  Dr. J. Thomas Morton said an active search is underway for an assistant superintendent of instruction.

Morton said candidates have been interviewed for the position but the search continues. He said money is in the budget for staffing several district administrative vacancies.

The board voted in favor of two principal promotions and appointment of a curriculum coordinator. Michelle Zernone was hired as the English Language/Arts, Social Studies coordinator for K-12 at an annual salary of $125,000. Debra Tarantino was approved as the principal of Clarkstown South High School at a salary of $165,000 and Kevin Horan was approved as the campus principal of the Felix Festa Middle School with a salary of $170,000.

Tarantino and Horan’s appointments are effect July 1, 2013.  Current South Principal James Vitale and Felix Festa Campus Principal Dianne Basso are retiring on June 30.