RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 16, 2010, Bellmore Life
CHSD meeting: still dreaming of fields
Questions on the quality of the CHSD playing fields come to the surface again.
While some Bellmore-Merrick high school athletes look forward to another year of displaying their talents on their “field of dreams,” others in the district still dream of fields. Following up on the high school district’s decision to limit the use of its athletic fields to outside groups, while allowing Police Activity League soccer teams to use them until October 31, Merrick PAL soccer and lacrosse representatives sent a letter to John Scalisi, director of school facilities, on August 12.
The letter asks Mr. Scalisi to discuss “the future use of the athletic fields that will allow the Merrick PAL to continue to offer the community based travel soccer and travel lacrosse programs,” and offers proposed recommendations for scheduling the teams. The letter indicated “CC” (courtesy copies) to all trustees and administration officials, but apparently a few did not receive it.
PAL representatives John Pinto and Skip Haile followed up with an appearance at the board’s September 1 meeting to raise the issue of the fields. Included in the discussion was the current condition of the fields, particularly the Calhoun athletic field, which Mr. Pinto called “horrific.”
He cited examples of surrounding districts that have installed synthetic turf. Mr. Pinto, a former Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District board member, and Mr. Haile, a member of the North Merrick School District board, have been campaigning for the installation of synthetic turf fields for more than two years. Mr. Pinto said taxpayer funds had been “wasted on seeding and topsoil,” and that the Calhoun field has “$200,000 worth of crabgrass.”
However, Mr. Scalisi disagreed, saying he is “very impressed with the way the fields look.” Mr. Haile said PAL wants to work with school officials on the use of the fields in the spring, “but we need to know as soon as possible.” He said the PAL teams “shouldn’t have to play on outside fields,” which he said would cost the organization about $10,000 a year.
He cited the Grand Avenue school field as being in good condition, suggesting that it could be used in rotation with the Merrick Avenue school field. At that point CHSD board Trustee Susan Schwartz asked the board’s legal counsel, Chris Powers, if the issue could be made a separate referendum as a free-standing proposition, separate from the regular school budget, and the timeline needed to prepare it for the ballot.
Mr. Powers responded that a series of presentations to the public would be necessary by February or March for the issue to be placed on the May 2011 ballot. The discussion ended with board President Nina Lanci saying the board would consider the issue. In regular business, Richard Rozakis, the assistant superintendent for instruction, presented his report on the 2010 Regents Exams, seventh- and eighth-grade assessment exams and advanced placement (AP) exams, which exceeded past years’ performances in many areas. The complete results are on the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD website.
In other actions, trustees:
- Approved spending $3,200 for professional choreography consultants for Mepham High School’s varsity cheerleading team. District Athletic Director Saul Lerner said the intent of the action is to help reduce cheerleader injuries. One parent asked that the program be extended to all the district schools. Ms. Lanci recommended that the cheerleading coaches from the other schools be invited to attend the sessions.
- Approved an agreement for $1,200 with the National Weather Station LLC for daily and storm alert warnings for the 2010-11 school year. According to its website, The National Weather Station LLC ™ is a private weather-forecasting service that provides its subscribing clients with the most accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts available. Its specialty is storm forecasting for public works departments, highway departments, school districts, offices of emergency management, landscape/snow-plowing companies and other companies and organizations.
- A $3,600 agreement with Orkin Pest Control for services during the school year.
- Approved the final readings on policies relating to purchasing authority and procedures and contracting for professional services, and the first readings of policies relating to HIV/AIDS, accountability, community relations, executive sessions, meeting notices, agenda preparation and dissemination, quorums, rules of order and minutes.
- Approved a $6,900 contract with Black Box Network services for telephone maintenance, and a $3,200 contract with Quality Fitness Service for maintenance of district fitness machines.
Also at last week’s meeting, Superintendent Dr. Henry Kiernan introduced the new chair of the Calhoun High Social Studies Department, Kate Caporusso. The board’s next regular monthly meeting will be Wednesday, October 6.
