Huntington School Board Notes

Huntington School Board members listened to a report by Superintendent James W. Polansky on the opening of the new school year during a meeting of the trustees last Monday, September 9 in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School auditorium.

Mr. Polansky later made a presentation on addressing state assessment results with students. A second presentation on the newly developed K-6 standards-based report card was made by Assistant Superintendent Kenneth A. Card, Jr.

Trustees also discussed and adopted eight board of education goals for the 2013/14 school year. A treasurer’s report, revenue status report, expenditure reports and extracurricular account quarterly reports were also presented to and approved by the elected trustees.

Several residents addressed the trustees during public commentary portions of the meeting. The residents discussed issues related to regular day bus transportation issues, class sizes and the possibility of extracurricular activities buses for students living in the district, but attending private or parochial schools.

Trustees also took the following actions:

·   Approved Christina Droskoski (Flower Hill, reading through approximately October 14), Conrad Dierking (Woodhull, classroom through approximately February 1) and Vincenza Famiglietti-Caruso (Washington, classroom through approximately November 12) to work as long-term substitute teachers.

·   Approved Christine Burns to work as a part-time long-term substitute art teacher at Jefferson and Southdown Schools through approximately January 6.

·   Approved a change in assignment for art teacher Karen Morea from .4 at Huntington High School to .6 effective January 6.

·   Approved salary schedule changes/adjustments for teachers Mariana Irigoyen, Keith Mattis and Matthew Perlongo, effective September 1.

·   Approved additional work for Nancy Burke-Allard related to scheduling and New York State test reporting. Costs associated with the work will be covered by a Title IIA grant.

·   Authorized the placement of Riverside Church on the list of organizations approved to use district facilities. The organization plans to use the J. Taylor Finley Middle School gym on Tuesday and Thursday nights in September and October for practice for its girls’ basketball travel team.

·   Adopted Huntington School Board goals for 2013/14.

·   Authorized ESL teachers Mary Lou Erickson and Eileen Gonzalez to receive mileage reimbursement for district related travel between buildings.

·   Approved an overnight field trip request that will allow the Huntington Blue Devil marching band to travel to Syracuse, New York to compete in the State Field Band Conference Championships. The 125 member band will leave on Saturday, October 26 and return on Monday, October 28. There will be 19 adult chaperones.

·   Approved budget transfers from one account to another to cover the costs associated with disability insurance ($11,811.93), Flower Hill School nurse’s supplies ($25) and a service contract for an additional copy machine ($710).

·   Approved a consultant services contract with Joann Kavanagh of East Islip for professional development courses on the use of and integration of technology in the classroom environment. She will be paid $100 per hour, not to exceed $8,000.

·   Approved a resolution concerning a confidential personnel matter.

·   Approved a consultant services contract with Debra Saum of East Northport for parent counseling and training. She will be paid $90 per hour.

·   Approved Vincenza Famiglietti-Caruso (teacher), Henry Clemmens (security guard), Connie DeGrassi (nurse) and Karen Lombardo (teacher aide) to work as substitute employees on an as-needed per diem basis.

·   Appointed Angela Berner as director of the Huntington Teacher Center at a stipend of $7,500.  Lucy Ann DeChiaro was approved to work as the HTC secretary for up to 17.5 hours per week at a rate of pay of $13.95 per hour.