Is Carrie E. Tompkins principal Kerri Bianchi hiring her children as substitute teachers in violation of district policy? [Updated Feb 14, 2025 with FOIL documents]
Two of Bianchi's college-age children have been substituting at CET despite district rules against nepotism and their failure to meet minimum qualifications.
Teachers and staff at the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in Croton have been observing with consternation as two of principal Kerri Bianchi’s college-aged children have been working as substitute teachers at CET, covering several classes this week including today (January 16.) The information in this report is based on credible and reliable sources and also on written documentation obtained by the Chronicle.
Andrew and Sarah Bianchi, who do not meet the minimum qualifications posted for substitute teaching at CET (see below), have filled in for regular teachers who are out sick. In addition, yesterday afternoon (January 15), Andrew was scheduled to substitute in a Special Education class. Teaching Special Education classes involves special skills and normally requires special certification from New York state.
Although New York State sets minimum qualifications for substitute teachers, local districts are free to impose additional requirements should they choose to. Our district has done so for CET.
(Nothing in this report should be interpreted as implying that Andrew and Sarah Bianchi, who are adults, are responsible for the apparent violations of district policy described here and below.)
A number of teachers have been out sick this week. We are told that other college students, who also do not meet the minimum requirements for subbing at CET, have been employed recently as well. Why the school did not hire qualified substitute teachers already signed up on the OLAS employment system used by schools in Putnam and northern Westchester counties is not clear.
The practice of hiring immediate family members of the school’s principal, who is directly responsible for the operation of CET, appears to violate clear district policy against conflicts of interest (in this case, nepotism.) That policy is stated here:
Neither Bianchi, Croton-Harmon district superintendent Stephen Walker, assistant superintendent John Griffiths, the district’s public information representative, nor members of the Board of Education have responded to repeated requests for comment and clarification this week. Should they get in touch after this report is published, we will of course update it to include their comments.
A four year college degree is a minimum requirement for substitute teaching at CET.
Update February 14, 2025: Results of FOIL request.
To try to get more precise details about this apparent case of nepotism and violation of district policy, the Chronicle submitted a New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for employment records for Kerri Bianchi’s three children who have worked for the district, as well as communications between Bianchi and other district staff concerning their employment.
We give the employment dates for each of them below; in addition, the documents demonstrate that Kerri Bianchi was closely involved with the hiring of her children, discussing their employment and scheduling with the district’s payroll clerk, Risa Ross and other staff, and even on occasion ferrying documents back and forth between her children and district staff.
Thus the district documents provide additional confirmation and corroboration for the report above.
Payroll records show the following employment dates:
Nicholas Bianchi: January 2021 through January 2023.
Andrew Bianchi: February 2022 to the present.
Sarah Bianchi: January 2025 to the present.
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Thank you for reporting this. And for quoting the policies.
The problem with this Board of Education is that it does not verify the procedures and processes are in place to ensure its policies are followed. The Board of Education failed to supervise the Superintendent in enforcing this with his own Principals.
At $115 per day, Kerri Bianchi is not handing out plum roles, but likely begging family members to do something she cannot get non-family members doing. If the alternative is no substitutes then Kerri Bianchi made the least worst choice. The problem is that $115 is incredibly low for such a high cost area of Westchester. Once again, this is another Board of Education issue. The School District is in a financial crunch caused by the interaction of the State Aid formula penalizing development, and a Village bent on even more development.
Interesting and good reporting!
I will say that Districts in general are scrambling to find subs, both certified and non. And judging by Croton’s pay habits, they are probably finding it very difficult and this is a good, but probably not most ethical solution.
Also, they should ideally be getting paid hourly as a sub-aide, especially if they aren’t certified. Different rates of pay and retirement system compared to a regular teacher sub.