Tuckahoe names interim superintendent as permanent schools chief
Amy Goodman, who has been Tuckahoe's interim schools superintendent since December, has been named permanent schools chief by the Board of Education.
Goodman joined the district in the summer of 2019 as the interim director of special education. She quickly shifted into the superintendent's office when former Superintendent Carl Albano left the district abruptly in December.
Goodman has worked in school administration in Westchester for over 25 years. Before coming to Tuckahoe, she was interim assistant superintendent for student support services in New Rochelle for two years.
Goodman spent nine years as superintendent of the Greenburgh-Graham school district, a special act district in Hastings-on-Hudson that serves about 300 students with emotional or learning difficulties. She also worked in student services and special education for the Eastchester, Lakeland and Mount Vernon districts.
"Ms. Goodman’s extensive experience in education, in-depth knowledge of pupil personnel, record of innovative approaches and positive leadership made her the clear forerunner," the district said in a statement.
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Albano had said in June 2019 that he would step down in June 2020, when his contract was up. But the district announced in December that he would leave immediately, with Goodman stepping into the role.
Albano remains on "voluntary administrative leave" through June, receiving $145,833 in accordance with his contract. He was also to receive an additional $133,656 as part of an agreement that Albano and school officials will not make "derogatory comments" about each other.
The former superintendent's relationship with the Tuckahoe school board had become quite strained. Albano filed two complaints with the state comptroller's office in early 2019 about the board's approval of an inter-municipal agreement with the town of Eastchester.
The agreement gave Tuckahoe schools ownership of the one block stretch of Siwanoy Boulevard that runs through the campus of the William E. Cottle School. The deal gave school officials the authority to close the road so students could cross safely. In return, a number of Eastchester's youth sports programs got access to Tuckahoe's athletic facilities.
The deal lasted for a total of 20 years, though state law limits such agreements to five years. Albano refused to sign the agreement.
A spokesperson for the comptroller's office told The Journal News/Lohud in January that the matter was "under review."
The office is still looking into the matter, spokesperson Kate Gurnett said in an email on April 22.
UPDATE: On April 24, Tania Lopez, deputy press secretary for the comptroller's office, said the matter was no longer under review and that the office had given The Journal News/lohud incorrect information. Lopez said the office completed its risk assessment of Tuckahoe schools in February 2020. The assessment found that the Siwanoy agreement was not in accordance with state municipal law. The office recommended that the district consult with its lawyers about the agreement and said no further examination was needed.
Within three months of Goodman's appointment, the coronavirus hit the region and began to transform education. On March 11, Tuckahoe's schools became among the first in the state to close because they were inside a one-mile containment zone targeted by the state, spreading out from a then-epicenter in New Rochelle.
"As Interim Superintendent of Schools, [Goodman] has managed the issues relating to the school closure orders, implementation of distance learning, and the other requirements placed on school districts by the State," the district statement said.
The school board chose three finalists from a pool of 30 candidates before settling on Goodman, the district statement said.
"Her existing familiarity with the Tuckahoe schools and community make her uniquely qualified to lead our District at this critical moment," it said.
Goodman will be the 17th female superintendent in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, which include 54 school districts, excluding special act districts.
"The board is confident in her ability to keep our district moving forward, especially given the tough tasks ahead," the district said.
Sophie Grosserode covers education. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter @sdgrosserode. Check out our latest subscription offers here.
