Council Committees

Athletics

Liaison to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association; provides input to legislative committees and NYSED on issues related to athletics.
Chair: Angelina Maloney, Superintendent, Brunswick CSD
Council Contact:  Charles Dedrick, Executive Director, NYSCOSS

Cabinet

The Cabinet Committee helps explore and develop professional development programs and services tailored to the needs of The Council's Cabinet members.
Chair: Lynn Allen, District Superintendent, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES
Council Contact: Vreneli Banks, Director, LEAF, Inc. 

Commission on Diversity and Inclusivity

The Commission is committed to cultivating diversity among superintendents and to support efforts by school districts to provide diverse and equitable communities.  
Chairs: Luvelle Brown, Superintendent, Ithaca and L. Oliver Robinson, Superintendent, Shenendehowa
Council Contact: Vreneli Banks, Director, LEAF, Inc.

Conference Committee

Guides the design of the Fall Leadership Summit and the Winter Institute to create a seamless experience for attendees including improving educational formats, identifying leading meeting ideas, and creating content strands and vetting presentation proposals.
Co-Chairs:  President Lars E. Clemensen, Hampton Bays UFSD and President Elect, Donna J. DeSiato, East Syracuse-Minoa CSD
Council Contacts: Theresa Wutzer Moore, Associate Director, NYSCOSS and Melanie Seiden, Associate Director, NYSCOSS

Dr. Mary Barter Scholarship

The scholarship committee explores and recommends strategies for recruitment of outstanding candidates to encourage diversity among educational leaders. They also select candidates for the scholarship each year through a comprehensive application process.
Chair: Gladys I. Cruz, District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
Council Contact: Deidre Hungerford, Associate Director for Business Development, NYSCOSS 

Curriculum and Instruction

The committee helps to formulate Council positions on curriculum, assessment and instructional issues. Primarily responsible for advising The Council on most issues addressed by the Board of Regents and disseminates information to the membership pertaining to curricular concerns.
Co-Chairs:  Lorna Lewis, Superintendent, Malverne UFSD and Kim Fontana, Superintendent, Pawling CSD
Council Contact: Robert Lowry, Deputy Director, NYSCOSS

Assessment Sub-Committee

Serves as a liaison between the Curriculum and Instruction Committee and the NYSED Office for Standards, Assessments, and Reporting. Solicits input and feedback regarding issues, questions, concerns, and recommendations pertaining to assessment.
Chair: David F. Hurst, Deputy Superintendent for Educational Programs, Bethlehem CSD
Council Contact: Robert Lowry, Deputy Director, NYSCOSS

Special Ed Sub-Committee

This sub-committee of the Curriculum & Instruction Committee helps to formulate Council positions on Special Education and serves as an advisory subcommittee to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee on matters related to serving students with disabilities in New York State.
Chair: Maureen Donahue, Superintendent, Southwestern CSD
Council Contact: Gregory Berck, Esq., Assistant Director for Governmental Relations, NYSCOSS

Federal Legislative

An advocacy committee which serves to monitor federal legislation and to provide input on key issues affecting New York State schools to members of U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. The committee also coordinates efforts with the sub-committee of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA)/Federal Relations Committee. Membership on this committee includes New York's AASA Executive Committee and Governing Board members.
Chair: Patrick Sullivan, Superintendent, Liberty Central School District
Council Contacts: Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director for Governmental Relations, NYSCOSS and Robert Lowry, Deputy Director, NYSCOSS

Wellness

Promotes the well-being of superintendents through informational programs and activities.
Chair: L. Bo Wright, Superintendent, Geneva City
Council Contact: Jacinda Conboy, Esq., General Counsel, NYSCOSS

APPR Task Force

Aids in formulating Council positions on teacher and principal evaluation issues and in identifying information and training needs of members about the evaluation system.
Chair:  Open Position

Budget

Prepares budget for submission to House of Delegates. The House of Delegates at the Winter Institute meeting elects three Budget Committee members.
Chair: Council Treasurer Bo Wright, Superintendent, Geneva City School District
Council Contacts: Deborah Orsini, Associate Director for Finance, NYSCOSS and Charles Dedrick, Executive Director, NYSCOSS

Constitution, By-Laws and Resolutions

Reviews proposed amendments and resolutions to The Council’s Constitution and drafts amendments for consideration by active members. Constitution limits membership to seven members.
Chair: Kevin McGowan, Superintendent, Brighton CSD
Council Contacts: Charles Dedrick, Executive Director, NYSCOSS and Jacinda Conboy, Esq., General Counsel, NYSCOSS

Distinguished Service

Selects recipients of The Council’s Awards including the Raymond R. Delaney Memorial Scholarship and Distinguished Service Award, both of which are given at the Fall Leadership Summit. Friend of The Council and Appreciation Awards are presented at the Winter Institute. The committee also selects New York State's candidate for AASA's Superintendent of the Year award and is composed of past presidents and Officers of The Council.
Chair: Hank Grishman, Superintendent, Jericho
Council Contacts: Deidre Hungerford, Associate Director for Business Development, NYSCOSS and Theresa Wutzer Moore, Associate Director, NYSCOSS

Ethics

Promotes high standards of ethics among school administrators; assists members in dealing with ethical issues; investigates allegations of improper practices; recommends financial assistance for initial legal consultation. The Council’s president appoints committee members.
Chair: To Be Announced
Council Contact: Jacinda Conboy, Esq., General Counsel, NYSCOSS

Finance and Investment

Responsibilities shall be to advise The Council on investments, recommend an investment strategy, ensure the preparation of an annual audit and tax forms, and review audited financial statements.
Chair: Charles Dedrick, Executive Director
Council Contacts: Charles Dedrick, Executive Director, NYSCOSS and Deborah Orsini, Associate Director for Finance, NYSCOSS

State Legislative

The mission of the legislative committee is to advocate for the support of public education with elected officials, state and local agencies, the media, and local communities. They stress the importance of public education as an investment in the country’s future through regular communication with policy makers and help shape education policy through position papers, letters to the editor, and timely articles. The also prepare a legislative agenda.
Chairs: Joseph Famularo, Superintendent, Bellmore UFSD and Michael Cornell, Superintendent, Hamburg CSD
Council Contacts: Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director for Governmental Relations, NYSCOSS and Robert Lowry, Deputy Director, NYSCOSS

Nominating

Places names of active members in nomination for Council offices and communicates with the membership relate to the process. The committee, consisting of seven members, is appointed at the Winter Institute.
Chair: Angelina Maloney, Superintendent, Brunswick CSD
Council Contact: Chuck Dedrick, Executive Director, NYSCOSS

Past Presidents' Committee

The Council values the contribution that Past Presidents can make to the organization. Past Presidents have specific institutional memory that cannot be overstated. This committee is composed of Past Presidents, currently serving as active school superintendents as well as Retired Life Members (RLMs) and their goal is to provide support to the executive committee, LEAF programming and committee chairs. They meet regularly as well as participate in various Council events. 
Co-Chairs: Maureen Donahue, Superintendent, Southwestern CSD
Council Contact: Theresa Wutzer Moore, Associate Director, NYSCOSS

Strategic Partner Advisory Committee

The Strategic Partnership Advisory Committee is composed of individuals participating in our Partnership Program that are interested in guiding our efforts in the support area.

It is open to all representatives from companies/organizations enrolled in the Partnership Program and who are invited by NYSCOSS staff to participate on the committee. The committee meets once a year virtually or in-person to plan the Fall and Winter events and review the Partnership Program. Decisions affecting the Partnership Program will be reviewed with the Advisory Committee prior to implementing changes.

Chair:  NYSCOSS Vice President Dr. Ken Bossert, Superintendent, Great Neck UFSD
Council Contact: Deidre Hungerford, Associate Director of Business Development, NYSCOSS

Snapshot of the Superintendency

Primarily responsible for the design, development, and writing of the Snapshot of the Superintendency. Committee members possess expertise in research design and methodology as well as professional writing for publication.  Members of the committee must attend meetings and contribute to the design, development, and writing of the document.
Chair: Past President Martha Group, Superintendent, Vernon Verona Sherrill School District (Sherrill City)
Council Contact: Dena Gauthier, Senior Graphic Designer