RSS 2.0 FeedJune 24, 2011, Bellmore Life
North Bellmore schools celebrate leaders and students
Nina Lanci and retirees honored at annual event.
TRUSTEE NINA LANCI (second from right) is joined (from left) by Superintendent Arnold Goldstein (left) and fellow school board members Joe Perrone, Rosemarie Corless and Grace Cramsie. Bellmore Life photo by Douglas Finlay
It was an emotional night for parents, board members, teachers and other residents as the North Bellmore School District said goodbye to six of its most charming and effective leaders, and also recognized the talents of its young artistic students during the annual monthly meeting at Martin Avenue school.
Nina Lanci, a trustee on the North Bellmore School District Board of Education since 2003 – having also served as its president – received several standing ovations by parents and residents in attendance as she held her last meeting as a trustee.
She was presented with bouquets of flowers and other gifts as heads of several PTAs and other groups stood to thank her for a job exceptionally well done.
She will bequeath her seat to newcomer John Ferrara, who won the May 17 election.
At the same meeting the board said goodbye to five teachers retiring from the district’s five schools: Jacquie Capozzoli, Paulette Eisermann, Elizabeth Meehan, Sue Nelson – and Raye Wartell, who was not in attendance. The five totaled more than 103 years of teaching.
They received district certificates of appreciation for their dedication to the district, as well as bouquets of flowers from the heads of PTAs and groups, and several thanks from parents – and principals – who named some teachers as helping guide their children through the grades, and a standing ovation.
Superintendent of Schools Arnold Goldstein quoted Isaac Newton to aptly characterize the effect the six will have upon leaving the district: “If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants,” he said to the five who were there.
He said, in honor of the five leaving, that the district was certainly standing on the shoulders of those “we have with us tonight.”
Of the retiring teachers, he said, “Your legacy is North Bellmore itself. All here tonight owe you a debt of gratitude for what you have done.”
“Each of you,” he continued, “has made North Bellmore as fine a district as there is on Long Island,” with their enthusiasm for teaching and their wisdom with the children.
Of Mrs. Lanci, he said she is someone with a pure sense of community who transcends her personal gain, who considers service to community more important than status or salary, who places others first, was someone who would rather give than receive and who would rather provide than ask.
Quoting Shakespeare, he then looked directly at her and said, “I can no other answer make, said he, than thanks, and thanks...and thanks.”
“Nina,” he concluded, “we thank you for all that you have done.”
Irma Kass, a former Central High School District and North Bellmore board member for more than 20 years, stood up and asked the students in the room to raise their hand. They did. She then asked the parents to raise their hands. They did. Ms. Kass then said, “Nina has touched everyone of your lives over the last nine years.”
Speaking to Mrs. Lanci, she said, “I will genuinely miss your presence, your wisdom and I will always be grateful” for what you have done for the district.
Mrs. Lanci, in emotional tones, then spoke to the attentive audience. “I have very good friends here in this audience. It’s like a tree. I started out as a little bit of a rebel, was a rebel with a cause, and I never looked back.
“I always said we could do it, and we did. I started at Martin here, where I inspired everyone, and everyone inspired me.
“I look around and my best friends that are here..it’s because of what I’ve done.
“Over the years I’ve put my heart into what I’ve done. If your heart is not in this job, then don’t do it. It’s a life commitment, you are making change in people’s lives.
“We’re making changes for the betterment of the children, and if someone ever disagreed, I took it personally.
“I will continue to help this community because that’s what I’m all about.
“I sincerely hope I left this district in a better place.”
