Huntington School Briefs
A change in state law will now allow school districts to hold a larger percentage of their budget as an unappropriated fund balance. For 2007-08, districts can hold three percent of next year’s budget, instead of the previously allowed two percent. In 2008-09 the amount rises to four percent.
The Huntington School District had a sufficient fund balance as of June 30 to hold the full three percent allowed in the unappropriated fund balance. This amount can serve to cushion taxpayers in the future.
Huntington school officials are dealing with movement in the exterior wall of the large cafeteria at the high school. The entire wall of the second story is moving outwards. The problem was discovered during an annual visual inspection of all eight buildings in the district. Such inspections are required by state law.
The district’s architectural firm, Burton, Behrendt and Smith has analyzed the problem and has worked to develop a solution. It has the potential to be a costly problem to fix, according to Assistant Superintendent David H. Grackin.
The electronic message board located on the corner of Oakwood and McKay Roads at Huntington High School has not been functioning for nearly three weeks. According to Superintendent John J. Finello, it was struck by lighting. “Two LED boards and the modem were destroyed,” Mr. Finello said. Parts have been ordered to repair the system. However, it will take several weeks for them to arrive in Huntington and be installed.
Huntington School Board members have accepted the resignations of teacher aides Jennifer Fazio (Huntington High School) and Madeline Echevarria (Woodhull Intermediate), security guards Irene Rouse (J. Taylor Finley Middle School) and Jeffrey Schmidt (Huntington High School) and food service worker Marianne Matarazzo (Woodhull). Each of the resignations is effective September 1.
Food service worker Aphrodite Bastakis had her assignment changed from Jefferson Primary School to Huntington Intermediate.
Trustees also appointed several teacher aides, effective Sept. 1. The appointments include Teresa Romero (Woodhull), Elizabeth Wood (high school), Marianne Matarazzo (Finley), Gina Tonno (Finley), Stephen Fitts (Huntington Intermediate) and Elizabeth Lupi (Huntington Intermediate).
Several teacher aides and two teacher assistants were authorized to perform additional work ranging from assisting with mailings at the high school and attending reading training programs to making phone calls in preparation for elementary school openings.
Trustees granted four teachers leaves of absence, including Woodhull music teacher Darlene Graham (Sept. 1 through approximately Jan. 25, 2008 – child care), high school social studies teacher William Byrne (Sept. 1 through approximately May 9 – called up to active duty in the armed forces), Jefferson/Southdown ESL teacher Jennifer Marsh (Sept. 1 through Nov. 23 – child care) and elementary teacher Kristen Thatcher (Sept. 1 through approximately Dec. 21 – child care).
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