Struggle for Power The Longest School Strike

About the Book

Two people participating in the same events, yet on opposite sides, give an engrossing view of a struggle which engulfed a large community in northern Westchester County in New York State. It became the longest teachers strike in New York State’s history. Even though they are personal memoirs, both authors try to give as full a picture of the personalities, institutions, and issues driving the struggle as each experienced it. The narrative is in two parts, side by side, and event by event. Both are impressionistic accounts that do not claim to be objective. Dr. Leon Bock’s account is the viewpoint of a leader of a major institution, the Lakeland School District. In representing the district he had the heavy responsibility to merge the interests of students and parents, faculty, the taxpaying community, and the Board of Education. Mr. Thomas Kavunedus, a faculty member, served as a negotiator for the Lakeland Federation of Teachers. He saw his responsibilities as extending to the promotion of learning and teaching environment which would foster excellence. The contract with the school district, which Mr. Kavunedus had participated in promulgating years earlier, was a major step in raising teachers out of the dark ages of coffee in the boiler room, and hopefully greater professionalism. Both authors disagree with one another on many of the issues. Most of these issues bedevil our schools today. Yet, there is enough civility to recognize that partisanship need not be so all engulfing that it demonizes the other side and its objectives. No narrative of such a complex event can be totally accurate and objective. The authors try to focus on the interpersonal relationships, rather than serve as a textbook history of this series of complex events. There is no intention to discredit, or malign any of the personalities in the narrative; rather they are presented as the writers experienced them under conditions of stress.

About the Author

Thomas Kavunedus Born in Harlan Kentucky in 1931. Lived in Europe for three years. Attended Harlan Elementary Schools, and private school Palkari Vedova in Port Chester New York. Graduated from George Washington High School in NYC 1949. A.B. the University of Kentucky in 1953. Served in the U.S. Army. Graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University, Masters Degree 1960.Married in 1965 to former Carolyn Cook, one son Charles. Worked for the Lakeland School System in Westchester County for thirty years, and as an instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Honors include Fulbright Scholarship in Classical Studies, New York State Regents Scholar in Mid East Studies, and Northwestern University Scholar in Non-Western Studies. Author of two textbooks for high schools, The Middle East, and Our Western Heritage. Dr. Leon Bock I began my thirty nine year school career in New York State as a substitute teacher in East Harlem's Benjamin Franklin High School in 1951. I moved up the educational ladder being appointed a high school teacher of history, and later was appointed as J.H.S. Assistant Principal in the N. Y. C. borough of Queens. In 1972, I was selected, for the position of high school Principal at Walter Panas High School in the Lakeland School District in northern Westchester County. Five years later, in 1977, I was appointed Acting Superintendent of the same school district. I then led the school district through the longest strike in New York State history. My successful leadership during the strike resulted in the early replacement of my predecessor and my appointment as Superintendent of the Lakeland School district in 1981. In addition to my Bachelors Degree I attained a Masters Degree in political science from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. My co-sponsor in all my endeavors has been my wife of sixty five years, Belle, who has provided invaluable support throughout all our adventures.