Kern No Longer Working at Stuyvesant

Machinist Kern Levigion was dismissed from his position as a provisional worker at Stuyvesant on Wednesday, May 6. He worked at Stuyvesant for 23 years, assisting the janitors in maintaining technological equipment. Levigion was notified on Wednesday, April 22, by the Department of Education (DOE) Human Resources Department that in response to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to remove all provisional employees across the city, his services at Stuyvesant would no longer be needed.

This proposal by the de Blasio administration addresses the fact that many provisional employees have been on the city’s payroll for years without having passed a civil service examination. Levigion is said to be among the DOE’s 4000 provisional employees who have been affected due to a lack of certification.

Levigion was viewed as a necessary part of the staff by the student body because he facilitated student run productions such as SING! and the Stuyvesant Theater Community (STC)  in their efforts. “He was sort of an enigma. He basically did a bunch of odd jobs around the school that no one else knew how to do. I'm not sure how we're going to do some of those things anymore,” senior Thomas Perskin said.

Additionally, students have voiced their concern for Levigion and outrage at the city’s action. “As someone who knew Kern personally, I'm really upset,” said junior Annebelle Gary, who has worked closely with Kern in the technological aspects of SING! and STC. “I would love to see him get his job back and I am going to do anything I can to help him.”

This is not the first time Levigion's job has been at risk. In 2011, the title of machinist was to be removed by the DOE, and Levigion along with 13 other DOE employed machinists were to be laid off. In response, students signed a petition contesting this decision. Levigion was soon rehired by the administration after the discovery that two other mechanists had retained their jobs.

There has been speculation about other possible reasons for his dismissal. “The official statement is that the decision was made due [to a] personnel issue, done on the level of the human relations department. I can only give you this one statement,” Assistant Principal of Guidance Casey Pedrick said.

          Levigion declined to speak with The Spectator on the matter, but is believed to be taking steps towards reclaiming the position he held.