Here is the official announcement:

(OSSINING, N.Y.) – Superintendent of the Ossining School District, Dr. Phyllis Glassman, Board of Education President, Alice Joselow, and the entire Ossining Board of Education commend the Ossining Association of Administrators and Supervisors for their leadership and unselfish act of volunteering to accept a salary freeze for the 2009-2010 school year.  The Administrative Association under the leadership of President and High School Principal Joshua Mandel recognized the severity of the fiscal crisis confronting our nation, state, and community.  According to the Board of Education, “The administrators came forward and placed the needs of the Ossining children and community ahead of their own.”

Anticipating that the economy would not improve substantively within the year and anticipating the difficult budget discussions to be held in the next few months, the Administrative Association chose to support the interests of the Ossining School District and the needs of the educational community through a generous act of willingly accepting a salary freeze for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Phyllis Glassman commented, “The Ossining Administrative Team always demonstrates excellent leadership on behalf of students, staff, and families in all areas such as instruction, curriculum, staff development, and overall child development.  The administrators’ most recent leadership act reflects their unselfish devotion to their mission.”  Board of Education President Alice Joselow stated, “On a regular basis, I admire the dedication of our administrators and their tireless efforts on behalf of our children.  For our administrators to have made such a generous offer in volunteering for a pay freeze stands out as an act of great kindness and respect.”

At the Board of Education Regular Meeting of 28 January 2009, the Board will be provided with a Memorandum of Agreement in which the administrators’ salary freeze will be presented.  It is anticipated that the Board Trustees will recognize the generosity of the Association of Administrators and Supervisors, express their appreciation for the Association’s leadership, and share their gratitude on behalf of the community.

“Our child-centered administrators who spend weekends and evenings as well as school days serving our youth have cast their vote for economic respect.  We are truly heartened,” stated both the Superintendent and Board President.

As the Ossining School District moves forward in developing a proposed budget for the 2009-2010 school year, the contributions of the administrators will serve the community well.  The Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools applaud the Ossining Association of Administrators and Supervisors.

The Ossining Union Free School District, nationally recognized for its mission to further the success of all children, serves approximately 4,300 pupils in six schools: Roosevelt School for newborn to four-year-olds, Park Early Childhood Center for kindergarten through first grade, Brookside School for grades two and three, Claremont School for grades four and five, Anne M. Dorner Middle School for grades six through eight, and Ossining High School for grades nine through 12.     [January 27, 2009]