Huntington School Board Notes
The Huntington School Board voted 5-2 (Emily Rogan and Christine Bene in the minority) to continue allowing Huntington High School seniors to leave the grounds for lunch with parental permission. Students in the three other grades housed in the building do not have the privilege of leaving the campus. Trustees reviewed information on the issue compiled by Principal Carmela Leonardi and held a public discussion before acting on a motion to close the campus for all students. Ultimately, the motion failed.
Teacher aide Carolina Martinez (Oct. 31) and security guard Carlos Arce-Rodriquez (Nov. 26) had their resignations accepted by trustees.
Leaves of absence were granted to Southdown School teacher Anne Marie Faulkner and Washington School teacher Alissa German, Jefferson School teacher aide Daphine Harkins and Huntington High School teacher aides Denise DePasquale and Elizabeth Wood.
Trustees approved five long-term substitute teachers to cover the classes of full-time faculty members away from their positions. The long-term subs include Elizabeth Wood (high school special education, Oct. 20 to approximately Jan. 26), Peter Ravo (Jack Abrams Intermediate School classroom, approximately Dec. 1 to Dec. 14 and approximately Jan. 5 to June 2009), Danielle Reminick (Woodhull School classroom, Nov. 18 to TBD), Katherine Hicks (Woodhull School classroom, Nov. 18 to TBD) and Pamela Dembinski (Jefferson/Woodhull classroom, Nov. 18 to TBD).
A memorandum of agreement between the district and the Huntington Chairperson’s Association was approved. The contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2006 and run through June 30, 2010.
Trustees approved contracts with Margarita Shif (translation services at $47.07 per hour), EuroNet Language Services (translation services at $300 plus transportation expenses) and Susan Simonds (workshops for Teacher Center: “Portfolio Development for Certification” totaling nine hours plus extra time - $1,000).
Budget transfers from one account to another were approved to cover the cost of translation services for state assessments ($1,000), supplies for new units of studies in the SEARCH program ($2,500) and a BOCES administrative fee for a Washington School field trip ($169). A fourth transfer in the amount of $270.67 was for “expenses generated from bid book order and to replace AED adult defibrillator pads,” Southdown Principal Michelle Marino said.
Trustees appointed instructors to work in the district’s adult and continuing education program. The instructors include David Crimi, Edward Enyart, Eric Feltman, Eileen Giarratano, Howard Goldberg, Richard Gress, John Gurrieri, Martha Ironman, Kieran Mock, John Morales, Cristine Papasodero, Martha Reilly, Carmela Stone Klein, Ellen Winter and Richard Wos. Regina Askerberg was appointed to serve as the program’s secretary. Each of the individuals will be paid $25 per hour.
- Woodhull School special education teacher Christyn Roseto was granted tenure, effective Dec. 7.
- Approved disposal of an ice cream freezer at Jack Abrams Intermediate School and an IBM typewriter in the district’s audio-visual department.
- Accepted donations of full-size violins valued at $800 each from Dorothy Winegar and Sarah Acton and fashion program supplies (beads, patterns and embroidery) valued at $150 from Jean Roncallo.
- Approved a change order in the amount of $5,000 associated with the exterior masonry wall reconstruction project at Huntington High School. The change represents a reduction in the contract amount with Minhas General Contractors since the district did not need to utilize the excess allowance that was included in the original bid document.
- Approved full-time appointments for food service workers Juana Espinal (Finley Middle School) and Andrea Floro (Jefferson) and clerical worker Janet Lentini (payroll office).
- Appointed student stage crew members, including Michael Funk, Michelle Reiss and Brian Connell and student lab assistant Maya Bengston. The appointments are for the current school year. They will each be paid $7.15 per hour when the work.
- Appointed Jeffrey Francom as a piano accompanist. He will be paid $24 per hour when he works.
The Huntington School Board will meet again on Mon. Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jack Abrams Intermediate School auditorium.
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