Mahopac News 06.09.2022

VOL. NO. Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

New superintendent: In memory of
I’m ready those who’ve fallen

Christine Tona begins tenure July 1 Ninety-six-year-old Jim Dipe- a member of the U.S. Navy and
lesi puts his hand over his heart as the Coast Guard and is a main-
BY BOB DUMAS that they can become success- the Pledge of Allegiance is recited stay at all Mahopac veteran-based
EDITOR ful adults.” during Memorial Day ceremonies celebrations. For more pictures of
in Mahopac last week. Dipelesi is the Memorial Day event, see the
Christine Tona is ready to Tona, who will be the rst a World War II veteran who was centerspread on pages 16 and 17.
take over. woman in district history to
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAHOPAC serve as superintendent, has PHOTO: MAUREEN DALY
On July 1, Tona will o - SCHOOL DISTRICT a 31-year career in education.
cially take the reins as super-
intendent of Mahopac schools Christine Tona A graduate of Adelphi Uni-
in the wake of Anthony Di- versity, Tona holds a bach-
Carlo’s retirement. Since she and [that presents] the op- elor’s degree in elementary
was appointed to the job by portunities the students have education, a master’s degree
the Board of Education ear- in middle school and high in reading and a professional
lier this spring, Tona has been school. I am very excited about diploma in education admin-
busy preparing by meeting being able to continue that. [I istration from Dowling Col-
with faculty, administrators, want] to learn what else we lege. She hails from Long
students and community can add to Mahopac to make Island, where she worked for
members as she begins to get it more appealing for every- the Riverhead Central School
a feel for the district and the one and provide our students District, serving as assistant
town. with the very best education superintendent for six years,
and very best opportunities so and then becoming interim
“I have been putting a lot of superintendent during the
miles on my car. I am ready,” pandemic.
Tona said during an appear-
ance on Spotlight on Ma- Before Riverhead, she
hopac Schools, the district’s worked in the West Babylon
online program. “I am very Union Free School District
impressed with what I have for 16 years. She served there
seen so far in all the schools. as executive director for cur-
riculum and instruction for
ere is that strong founda-
tion in the elementary schools SEE TONA PAGE 9

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LEGAL NOTICES PTO holds inaugural
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MAHOPAC MUSINGS pg 3
OPINION
SPORTS





















PAGE 12 MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

OP ED

An open letter to the Mahopac school community

e MCSD Board of Education and e current budget proposal: the community alike. Even as we savor ing and learning that takes place in Ma-
administration is presenting a revised • Maintains current class sizes success, our focus must remain on the hopac. Our students are performing at
budget for the 2022-23 school year • Maintains advanced placement and horizon—to build a school system that high levels and none of this would be
that re ects the community’s desire for elective courses will serve our children’s future. possible without the dedication and
scaled-back spending while still sup- • Maintains music/drama performing professionalism of our teachers, sta and
porting our educational programs. groups and athletics If this revised budget is defeated by administrators, and the continued sup-
• Expands Project Lead the Way voters, MCSD would have to go to a port of parents and the Mahopac com-
e $132,463,845 budget for 2022-23 • Enhances curriculum plans and ini- contingency budget, which carries a 0 munity.
school year keeps the taxpayer in mind tiatives percent tax levy increase and a budget
and funds an educational program for We have managed to achieve these ef- cut of nearly $2.5 million from this pro- Please vote on the revised budget, June
more than 3,900 students. e budget forts while remaining under the tax cap, posed budget. A reduction of that size 21, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mahopac
represents a 2.75 percent tax levy in- as we have for each of the past ve years, would eliminate most sports programs, High School Gym.
crease, which means that an average and we are thankful to the community extracurricular activities, and extended
homeowner would see a monthly in- for its e orts. Winning state and na- bus routes. It would also mean a loss Anthony DiCarlo
crease of approximately $26 or less, de- tional awards in academics, music, and of eight teaching positions and require
pending on the town they live in and its athletics is a victory for the students and larger class sizes across the district. Superintendent of Schools
average assessed home value. Michael Mongon
We are immensely proud of the teach-
Board of Education President

GARO of energy. I asked if she was said, strangers loving each of scru y kids who had the War IV would be fought with
alright. Maybe she’d taken the other, peace, bliss, harmony. audacity to dream they could sticks and stones. He also
FROM PAGE 10 brown acid. change the world was real. said that putting nukes in the
“When we take over,” she hands of human beings was
sister’s eyes when she came She and her best friend Zoe declared, “there’ll be no more e world just wasn’t ready for like giving a meat cleaver to a
home from Woodstock. She’d had been trying to change wars!” peace. psychotic.
been camping out for a week the world… and now the
with the other 500,000 hippies. world had nally changed. She was, of course, Einstein once said that You don’t have to be a genius
Woodstock was beautiful, she delusional. But the wave that World War III would be to know that.
ough worn and bedraggled, washed over a generation fought with nukes and World
she radiated this crazy kind

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THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022 MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 23

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