Chappaqua BOE: Tipp Now President, Kiesel Vice President

The members of Chappaqua's board of education are the same as they were at the close of last month. Now, however, there is a change in leadership.

At the board's re-organizational meeting Wednesday, which is meant to start the 2012-13 fiscal and school year, Victoria Tipp was chosen to be president for the year. Alyson Kiesel, the president for the previous school year, became the new vice president, replacing Jeffrey Mester.

Kiesel, who was re-elected in May to a second, 3-year term on the board, was sworn in both for her seat and for the leadership role.

Board member Randall Katchis is third in line for the leadership, should both the president and vice president be absent.

District Clerk Theresa Markley administered the oaths of office to both the leadership and Superintendent Lyn McKay. She, in turn, had to take her oath of office for her job.

McKay praised Tipp, who was first elected in 2011.

“I look forward to working with you," she said.

The superintendent also praised Kiesel for her leadership role.

“Certainly on a personal level she was an enormous support to me, and I appreciate very much Alyson.”

Tipp concurred in praising Kiesel.

“I also want to thank you Alyson, and you’ve given me a very good example and good foot steps in which to follow.”

Tipp also said, “I want to thank the board for your confidence you’ve placed in me and I’d like to continue the work that we’ve been doing, as we’ve been doing it for the past year.”

New to the meeting table is Andrew Selesnick, who on July 1 went from Horace Greeley High School principal to an assistant superintendent for human resources.

The organization meeting was largely procedural, with votes taken for a series of roles that board members and administrators occupy every year. There were talks about some major issues, including approval of a resolution calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a New Castle and Chappaqua school district resident, to veto a bill that takes into account non-academic factors for private school placement of special education children - it's considered to be a costly unfunded mandate.

Also discussed was the appointment of assistant Greeley football coach Timothy Sullivan to fill in for Bill Tribou, for a reasion not publicly disclosed by the district.

Board discussion also included an announcement that the Zauderer property, a large piece of land off of Route 133 once considered for hosting , could be subdivided to boost its value before a possible sale.