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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Re-elected Trustees Rosemarie Corless and Joann Delauter were also sworn in for another term. The appointment of officers included: assistant superintendent for business Toni Cincotta as district clerk; Jaspan Schlesinger LLP as board attorney; Jeanne Canavan as board secretary  and deputy treasurer; Barbara Fillios as treasurer. 

Among the many items approved for the upcoming school year were the calendar of board meetings, the external auditor, committees on special education and pre-school special education, a claims auditor, bond advisors and financial advisors. Board of Education committees approved were building and grounds, budget and finance, curriculum, community relations and legislation. Trustees voted Ms. Delauter as their delegate to the New York State School Boards Association, and board members Nina Lanci and Joe Perrone were named representatives to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (CHSD).

Regular meeting

After the annual reorganization meeting, board members held the monthly board meeting. During the regular meeting, Ms. Lanci reported that at the last CHSD meeting a $1,500 donation was gratefully accepted from the Merrick Avenue Middle School PTA. Trustees voted to dispose of some obsolete equipment. High school graduations took place throughout the three schools in the district: Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham. Ms. Lanci attended the Mepham graduation where the 299 graduates were celebrated. “It was a great day,” said Ms. Lanci.

Superintendent report

Arnold Goldstein thanked Ms. Delauter for her service as president during the last year, saying she was “committed and hardworking.” He welcomed working with Ms. Corless during this school year.  The district’s five elementary schools enjoyed sixth-grade graduations. Mr. Goldstein said the year ended well, with North Bellmore students performing superbly in statewide testing.

The preliminary results “were really excellent,” he said. It was cautioned, however, that the state will be raising the cutoff on assessments, making it harder for children to achieve the highest third and fourth levels. The state raising the bar could result in more costs to the district, said the superintendent. He explained that more students will fall into the category of needing additional instruction. Mr. Goldstein said the summer special-education program had begun at Saw Mill Road School, where the students worked in classrooms without air conditioning during the latest heat wave. Fans were installed in the classrooms and plenty of water was distributed to the students. The North Bellmore Educational Foundation enrichment program began Monday. Mr. Goldstein encouraged parents “to find time for books.” It was hoped that parents will continue to read with their children.  “Have a wonderful summer,” said Mr. Goldstein.

Buildings and grounds

Director of Facilities Frank Russo said that all the buildings were being cleaned in anticipation of September's re-opening.  Among the capital projects scheduled for this summer are the refurbishing of the girls’ bathrooms at Newbridge Road School; flooring repairs at Dinkelmeyer, Park Avenue and Jacob Gunther schools; and chimney work at the Martin Avenue School. Work on the chimneys at Gunther and Park Avenue will begin shortly.

Curriculum and instruction

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Johnson said that an English as a second language  (ESL) program  is happening at Saw Mill Road School with funding made possible by a grant. There are two curriculum projects underway to extend the reading program, Foundations, into the fifth grade. Work is being done on a library curriculum for fifth- and sixth- graders, said Dr. Johnson. Deputy Superintendent Carol Eskew extended thanks to staff members working on the special education summer program. “It’s a well orchestrated symphony of activity,” said Ms. Eskew. Thanks to Saw Mill Principal Frances Bennett and the custodial staff at the school, Ms. Eskew said that opening day “went off without a hitch.” An informative meeting was held with bus drivers and matrons on the buses, said the deputy superintendent. The meeting was deemed beneficial by all. Ms. Eskew also thanked Gary Pardo, director of technology, for setting up the equipment for the summer program.

Donations

A number of donations were gratefully accepted and approved, including $93.51 from Stop & Shop Bonus Bucks Program for Martin Avenue School; a six-foot Kenmore freezer from  Marion Knigin; $165 from the Diabetes Foundation to be used for physical education supplies at Martin Avenue; $383.43 from the Stop & Shop Bonus Bucks Program for the Dinkelmeyer School; $820 from Saw Mill's sixth-grade parents to be used toward payment of the canoe trip; and a donation from the Park Avenue PTA of $9,967 for the school. 

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be held at the Martin Avenue School on Thursday, August 12, at 8 p.m.

By Laraine Milazzo