Mrs. Dunne Appointed Big Five Vice-Chair

Conference of Big 5 School Districts Officers: Chairperson Ned Deuel Syracuse Vice Chairperson Bernadette Dunne Yonkers Treasurer Ned Deuel Syracuse Executive Committee: Vivian Evans Buffalo Joel I. Klein New York Willa Powell Rochester Ned Deuel Syracuse Bernadette Dunne Yonkers Executive Director Georgia M. Asciutto

(July 2, 2008) Mrs. Bernadette Dunne, the senior member of the Yonkers Board of Education, was appointed to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Conference of Big 5 School Districts for the 2008-2009 school year.  Her term began July 1, 2008.

The Conference of Big 5 School Districts is a membership organization representing New York's five largest city school systems of Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.  These school districts combined educate more than 40% of the State’s public school pupils.

The Conference of Big 5 School Districts advocates and promotes urban education issues before federal, State and local entities.  These five large city school districts have been working together for 49 years, through the organization of the Big 5, to speak with one voice on the needs and strengths of urban education in New York State.

Mrs. Dunne was originally appointed to the Yonkers Board of Education in May 1995. She most recently served as President of the Board.  Mrs. Dunne has received distinguished Administrator and Leadership Awards in Education and Community from Marymount College, the Yonkers City Council, and the Archdiocese of New York.  She will serve as Vice-Chairperson until June 30, 2009.