Bill Dwyer was re-elected as president of the Huntington School Board at its organizational meeting Tuesday night, 5-1, with John Paci the sole no vote. Trustee Elizabeth Black was absent.
Dwyer's re-election was basically a slam dunk, but the vice president election was a bit more dramatic.
After some discussion and some confusion, John Paci was elected unanimously.
Prior to the elections, Richard McGrath and Paci were sworn in for their new terms after being re-elected to office in May.
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In addition, Black, McGrath and district resident Lynn Kiraly were appointed to serve on the district audit committee.
Dr. John Colletta and Corporate Medical Consultants was appointed to serve as the district physician with a retainer of $53,500.
Trustee Kim Brown was chosen to review CPSE and CSE minutes, if needed, outside of the time frame of a regularly scheduled board meeting.
Elizabeth Troffa was sworn in as district clerk and Jill Miranda was sworn in as district treasurer.
The law firm of Guercio & Guercio was appointed to serve as general counsel for the 2010-11 school year with a retainer of $38,500 and a litigation rate of $235 per hour.
Guercio & Guercio was also reappointed as the district's labor counsel with a retainer of $80,000 and an hourly rate of $235 for litigation services other than those related to collective bargaining units.
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Following the organizational meeting, Brown and Trustee Christine Bene discussed problems they had with this year's graduation ceremony held at Blue Devils' Stadium Friday, June 25. The problems ranged from people who arrived late and then insisted on standing in front of seated guests (see attached video) to people who smoked in the stadium stands, apparently due to the lack of "no smoking signs" on the grounds.
Those issues seemed almost laughable to certain members of the public who were present, one of whom chastised the board for ignoring two of her emails which led to her addressing them at the meeting.
"I find it amusing that two members of the Board want to discuss such inconsequential matters like the ones they mentioned, yet neither of them found the time to answer two emails that I sent," said Laura Mills. "I have been asking the Board to address the concerns of parents like me who want to know what the Board intends to do to keep the children of the Jack Abrams Intermediate School safe due to the increasing number of crimes occurring in its vicinity on an almost daily basis."
She mentioned the two violent crimes earlier this week.
District resident, Adam Spector, seemed to be echoing the sentiments of not only many Huntington and Long Island residents, but many people around the country who seem to be tiring of a new entitlement mentality that appears to be becoming prevalent.
"There seems to be a sense of perceived entitlement affecting people today. People feel entitled to affordable housing, a safe neighborhood, low taxes, and so on. But we are not entitled, we are privileged. We are privileged to live in good neighborhoods and have good schools," he said. "My wife and I worked years to have the privilege to buy a home in this community. I think the Board of Ed is being manipulated by the Town Board who is making it look like you are supporters of downsizing. Avalon Bay is for the Town to handle. You need to stay focused on the schools because if you do that, then we are all going to support you."
