Pearl River School Board Interviews Personnel Director Candidates

The Pearl River Board of Education interviewed four candidates for its newly-created director of human resources and community services Tuesday.

The position was created as part of the reorganization of the Pearl River School District administration. The board is expected to approve the new administrator during one of its meetings next month -- Aug. 3 or Aug. 30.

During Tuesday night's meeting, the board approved the 2011-12 transportation contract for the district. The $2.08 million contract reflects the $190,000 saved when voters in the district approved a reduction in the number of students in the high school who will be able to take the bus starting this fall.

The move has drawn complaints from some residents, including those whose children will no longer have the option of riding the bus to school.

"I see sometimes in news articles, people comment that school districts are getting away from buses to the high school just to save (approximately) $20 per taxpayer," said board member Tom DePrisco. "They should look at it the other way around. We are saving personnel and programs."

The board also approved more of its fall sports coaches, though the only change will be the addition of Matt Borawski as a varsity girls cross country assistant coach. He is replacing Anthony Hilliard, who resigned to go back to school full time. The cross country team won the Section 1 Class B championship this past fall.

AP Exam Excellence

Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Morgano announced that Pearl River High School students scored a three or better on 171 of the 380 total Advanced Placement exams they took this past school year.

The exams were taken by 237 students. A three is considered passing. Pearl River's 72 percent passing rate is above the state (66 percent) and national (60 percent) averages.

He also pointed out that 25 percent of the Pearl River students achieved the special status of AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honors or AP Scholar With Distinction.

"Our AP is open to all students," Morgano said. "It is not elite only. That is one of our strengths as a school district. To exceed the scores of schools that only let certain kids take it is certainly an accomplishment. It is a credit to our teachers from K-12. This doesn't happen overnight."