RSS 2.0 FeedJune 10, 2011, Cover Stories, Bellmore Life
CHSD meeting celebrates leaders, retirees
Year-end meeting wraps up some business.
by Naomi Volk
The year-end Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education meeting was a night full of celebration, recognizing the hard work of retiree’s and outgoing community leaders, as well as welcoming future employees to the district.
The board also took time to laud the new English and social studies chair of Calhoun High School, Victor Longaro, who will hold the combined position of the two previously separate departments.
The night began with a performance by the Calhoun show choir. Headed by Sanford Sardo, the group sang two songs: one a haunting melody about letters to and from a soldier in war, and the other the uplifting “Change Your Heart and Change the World.”
After the entertainment, the program continued with an acknowledgement of the various valedictorians and salutatorians of the three high schools in the district. Jeffrey Caso and Jenny Wu, valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, were honored from Calhoun.
From Kennedy, Max Krackow, the school’s valedictorian, and Dylan Kraslow, the salutatorian, were also celebrated.
Finally, Steven Tsai, Mepham’s valedictorian, and Chase Brennick, the salutatorian, were noted for their academic achievements. Bellmore Life’s June 15 graduation issue will highlight in-depth information on all the students’ individual accomplishments.
The Calhoun girls’ badminton team was feted for its third consecutive year in winning the Nassau County Badminton Championship under the direction of coaches Gregg Muscarella and Sue Litwin.
Nina Lanci a “wonderful leader”
The board then opened up the floor for outgoing Board President Nina Lanci. One Student Government representative from each of the three high schools presented her with a pen-and-pencil set.
Jessica Arnone, the representative from Calhoun, told Ms. Lanci that the district’s students all gave their thanks for her exceptional work on their behalf. Along with Jessica were Chase Brennick from Mepham and Hannah Kremer from Kennedy.
Board Trustee Janet Goller then thanked Ms. Lanci and told her, “You’ve been a wonderful leader.” The audience gave Ms. Lanci a standing ovation.
The meeting next focused on personnel changes, and acknowledging the incoming Calhoun administrators. In addition to Mr. Longaro’s appointment as chair of the social studies and English departments, the audience was introduced to Eric Gomez, who will be the new assistant principal at Calhoun. Mr. Gomez is the current assistant principal at Grand Avenue Middle School.
Mr. Longaro last worked in the district as the interim assistant superintendent of curriculum from 2008-2009. District spokesperson Michele Gagnon told Bellmore Life that English and social studies are coming together because they are “both humanities.”
She was quick to add that “Mr. Longaro comes with many years of experience,” and said that he will certainly be an asset to the teaching staff at Calhoun.
Michael Dolber, president of the Bellmore-Merrick United Secondary Teachers (BMUST), said that Mr. Longaro is coming out of retirement to fill the position is not a problem because he is being hired on an interim basis. He said that Mr. Longaro was very qualified and will be filling an administrative position, not a union teaching position.
However, Ryan Clark, a social studies teacher at Calhoun, said, “My question is why we never advertised the job and chose someone without any English experience.”
Congratulations to those retiring
After bringing in the new staff, the board bade farewell to those leaving the school community. The 20 retirees from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District are Helen Bensen; MaryAnn Collica, secretary for guidance at Grand Avenue; Madeline Dionisio; Kathleen Hamilton; James McManus, special education teacher at Mepham; Janet Popino; Sue Ellen Sherman, art teacher at Merrick Avenue; and Elizabeth Woodford.
Also leaving are Steven Rose, social worker at Grand Avenue; Antoinette Marciari; Mindy Brent, math teacher at Mepham; Carol Cooke; Carolyn Fredericks, special education teacher at Calhoun; Virginia Johnson, social studies teacher at Merrick Avenue; Irene Tellicane; Nora Sauders; Anna White, computer aide at Calhoun; Jeanette Ziemak, a clerical worker for Mepham; Isabel Sidorsky; and Lea Kaplan.
Board members of the school board took turns thanking the retirees.
The outgoing Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) co-presidents were also honored for their work and dedication. They included Pamela Banks Davis, Bellmore-Merrick Coordinating Council of PTAs; Viviana Scozo, Merrick Avenue Middle School; Evelyn Wilken, Grand Avenue Middle School; Donna Brower and Gail Volk, Calhoun High School; Marci Imber and Robin Rabinowitz, Kennedy High School; and Bridget Albers, Mepham High School.
Superintendent’s report
The meeting then moved on to the superintendent’s recommendations, listed below:
• “Pesticides and Pest Management,” which went through its second reading, says that the board will notify the community of any pesticide application and use the least toxic approach while avoiding its use on areas for students’ use, such as playgrounds and fields.
• A first reading of “Broadcasting and Taping of Board Meetings,” which says that meetings should be open to being broadcast, but with prior knowledge of the board president.
• A first reading of “Goals and Objectives for the Administration,” which states the guidelines the board expects the educational administration to adhere to.
• A first reading of “Superintendent of Schools,” which asserts that the board will appoint a superintendent of schools to serve in three-year terms.
• A first reading of “Duties of the Superintendent,” which outlines the powers of the superintendent.
• A first reading of “Administrative Team,” which sketches out the duties of the administrative team comprising of the superintendent and the administrative staff.
• A first reading of “Capital Assets Accounting Policy,” which gives the responsiblity oversight of capital assets to a school business official.
• A first reading of “Student Learning Objectives and Instructional Goals,” which explains the aspirations of the board in respect to students’ learning.
• A first reading of “Fiscal Accounting and Reporting,” which explains the financial transactions of the board.
In other news
The board also approved:
• the special education placements.
• accepting mini-grants from Rochester Institute of Technology for Project Lead The Way.
• the 2011-2012 meeting dates.
• the budget transfer.
• the Cafeteria Price List.
• an agreement with Challenge Day for Calhoun High School sophomores.
• the revision of fees.
• Construction Allowance Authorization number one.
• an agreement with Caryl Oris for healthcare consulting and staffing services.
• allowing Room to Grow to provide healthcare consulting and staffing services.
• an agreement with Nawrocki Smith, LLP to oversee the responsibilities of Claims Auditor.
• giving Barist Elevator Company Inc. permission to work on six dumbwaiters across the district.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Wednesday, July 6, at 8 p.m.
