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Steven Siciliano Named John Jay High School's New Principal

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. -- Dr. Steven Siciliano, who is currently principal at Harrison High School, has been picked to assume the same post at John Jay High School.

Steven Siciliano

Steven Siciliano

Photo Credit: Harrison Central School District

The Katonah-Lewisboro school district announced the selection of Siciliano in a Tuesday press release.

Siciliano has been principal at Harrison High School since 2013. Katonah-Lewisboro's school board is slated to vote on appointing Siciliano at its May 19 meeting. If the appointment is approved, then Siciliano will assume the role on July 1.

"We are excited to welcome him and to have him lead our high school,” Katonah-Lewisboro Superintendent Andrew Selesnick said in a statement.

Siciliano was part of a search process that started in December, according to the school district, and went through multiple interview rounds that involved administrators, students, teachers, parents and support staff.

The announcement of a new principal ends months of uncertainty over filling the high school's top job. The search for a new principal began after Jessica Godin abruptly relinquished her duties last October. At the time, the change was billed as a resignation and the only specific information regarding Godin's departure, which came from Selesnick, was that it was for "personal reasons."

Daily Voice, after filing a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request with the school district, learned that Godin was leaving due to a legal settlement she signed with the district to resolve an unnamed "dispute." 

The district redacted part of a paragraph from the settlement copy that it released. 

The settlement noted that Godin waived her right to sue Katonah-Lewisboro under several federal and state laws, including the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, and the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991, and the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Godin, as per the settlement, agreed to keep the terms confidential and to abide by a non-disparagement clause.

Godin is, in fact, still a district employee until June 30; the settlement allowed for her to receive full salary and benefits as if she was still active for the school year.

The Katonah-Lewisboro school board approved the agreement with Godin at a meeting last fall. Godin's name was not disclosed in the voting item for the board's meeting agenda. Daily Voice confirmed that Godin was the subject of the district's vote once it obtained a copy of her settlement.

Godin had only been the high school's principal since July 2014; for three years prior to that, she was principal of Katonah Elementary School. Since Godin relinquished her duties, her position has been filled on an interim basis by high school Assistant Principals Kim Piccolino and Gil Cass.

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