Discussion on Possible Closed Huntington Campus Begins
Discussions about a proposal by Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi to close the high school campus are underway. Since space renovations and extensive planning would be needed, the change would not be implemented until September 2009.
Currently, seniors are allowed to leave the campus with parental permission. The proposal would keep all students on school grounds for the entire school day.
In a staff newsletter, Dr. Leonardi acknowledged the issue is an “emotional” one for students. “I have proposed changing the small cafeteria into a senior cafeteria and bringing in or ordering out from food establishments that are willing to work with students,” she wrote to teachers.
Dr. Leonardi has already met with students and various school groups, including the PTA and the Shared Decision Making Committee and discussed the proposal at a student-faculty forum. Jennifer Szilagy, student-reporter for The Dispatch, the school newspaper, also interviewed the principal for a future edition.
“What I stressed with her is that my proposal represents an effort to be proactive on an issue that, for the most part, is being addressed by other districts only after a fatal accident,” Dr. Leonardi said about the interview. “I do not want any of us to regret not having made a decision, difficult as it might be, when we had the chance. I also explained that while I made the proposal, the decision rests with the superintendent and the members of the school board.”
Dr. Leonardi has surveyed Long Island districts to learn what type of campus they currently have and whether they are considering changes to those policies. “As expected, underclassmen are beginning to discuss this proposal,” the principal wrote in a staff newsletter. “While they are intrigued by the idea of a senior cafeteria that they can help design as well as tastier food, they claim that denying them the privilege of leaving campus for lunch is denying them a first chance at the independence and mobility that they will be ‘suddenly’ faced with in college.”
Superintendent John J. Finello said that at some point in the future, the School Board will consider the proposal and the possibility of implementing a policy change.
Fellow Long Island principals have told Dr. Leonardi that having a senior café, complete with a television, couch and games, such as a ping pong table “have helped seniors accept a closed campus.”
If Dr. Leonardi’s proposal is enacted she wrote that “present sophomores would be involved in designing the lounge and helping to recommend furniture and other attractive items such as computers, TV, etc. Although disappointed, the sophomores that have heard the idea are interested in a lunchroom just for seniors and in the extra amenities. Some also talked about saving on gas and not liking the feeling of being rushed with only 42 minutes for lunch.”
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office