Eleni Carter replaces Ray Rivera on M-W School Board

Central Valley - The Monroe-Woodbury School Board has replaced trustee Ray Rivera with Eleni Carter, an incumbent school board member who came in fourth in last month’s contest for three seats on the nine-member board. Carter will fill the remaining year on Rivera’s term and face re-election again in May. Rivera, a recently retired detective with the New York City Police Department, put his house up for sale earlier this year and moved his family to North Carolina where he wanted to explore the possibility of starting his own security business. When his house sold in late March - “earlier than expected,” Rivera would later say - school board member Theresa Budich asked at a board meeting whether there would be the normal three seats up for grabs in May’s school board election or four. Rivera had not been at school board meeting since the beginning of the year; however, School Board President Dr. Michael DiGeronimo said Rivera had given no indication that he planned to resign until he could determine whether North Carolina was the right place for his family and future business prospects. “Mr. Rivera is a duly elected official and the board has a legal,” DiGeronimo said, “and ethical obligation to ensure the fidelity of the process.” The School Board announced Rivera’s formal resignation at its June 8 meeting, and then unanimously appointed Carter to complete the final year of his term. In a press release announcing the decision, the board cited Carter’s experience as a trustee for the last three years and the fact that she had been vetted by the public in the last election. DiGeronimo also credited Rivera’s contribution: “It was he who helped build the new foundations that continue to make this district such a success,” the school board president said in the press release. “Ray has provided the leadership necessary to help the district regain control of spending and he has remained committed to our community’s children and the educational programs that make this District so great.” What remains unclear is the status of the board’s investigation into how Budich learned of the sale of Rivera’s home in Highland Mills. Rivera complained to the rest of the school that Budich had violated his privacy when she reported the sale at the school board meeting. However, Budich, a real estate agent, said the information is readily available public information. Although DiGeronimo said the cost of the inquery would cost about $1,200 rather than the initial estimate of $5,000, he said this week no decision has been made as yet. Judge dismisses lawsuit School officials announced this week that the lawsuit brought against the district by former Assistant Superintendent for Curricula Carole O’Neill has been discontinued “with prejudice and without costs or fees,” according to an order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel. O’Neill claimed that the Monroe-Woodbury School District created and maintained a gender hostile work environment. She retired from the district last July under a special incentive program initiated by New York State. If a lawsuit is dismissed “with prejudice,” a plaintiff is barred from bringing another lawsuit on the same claim or cause against the district, according to the district’s attorney Brian Sokoloff. In a statement, DiGeronimo said the district is a fierce supporter of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and does not tolerate any form of discrimination or establishment of a hostile work environment. Two similar lawsuits remain. They were brought by school administrators who were not granted tenure. They claim they were surprised by that descision after positive reviews.