Huntington School Board Notes
Huntington School Board members have granted leaves of absence to teachers Allison Curtain (special education, Woodhull), Nicole Lynch (music, Woodhull) and Kelly Trites (special education, Huntington High School). Trustees took the action at their public meeting on Monday, February 7.
Woodhull special education aide Jessica Sloan's resignation was accepted, effective January 28. Classroom elementary school teacher Danielle Walsh was approved to return from a child care related leave of absence, effective September 1.
Trustees also appointed as long-term substitutes teachers Tina Balducci (special education, Washington), Margaret Schaefer (reading, Southdown), Kelli Ann Connors (special education, Woodhull) and Carly Fiorelli (English, Finley).
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Approved budget transfers from one account code to another to cover the costs associated with guidance department expenses ($2,000), a bullying prevention and intervention conference at the Plainview Holiday Inn ($130), guidance department local travel ($300) and an external curriculum audit for J. Taylor Finley Middle School ($58,725).
• Approved additional work related to the transition of staff for teacher Nadine Araoz and retired business office official Joyce Keegan.
• Authorized teacher Eileen Gonzalez to provide up to 18 hours of English review sessions for J. Taylor Finley Middle School English language learners. She will be paid $48.97 per hour, which will be funded through a Title I LEP/ELL grant.
• Approved a change in assigned for Kim Zelman from principal clerk in student support services to secretarial assistant in the business office, effective March 14.
• Recalled teacher aide Denise DePasquale from the preferred eligibility list. She will work in Huntington High School's special education program.
• Approved guidance counselor Bernadette Walsh to work as the interview coordinator for the Harvard Club of Long Island's applicant interview program. She was authorized to work up to 10 hours at a rate of $48.97 per hour.
• Approved Washington Primary School speech therapist Margaret Connors to work in the new teacher mentoring program. She will receive a stipend of $375.
• Authorized Washington Primary School reading teacher Jeffrey Dicker to provide up to 10 hours of AIMSweb training. He will be paid $48.97 per hour, which will be funded through a Title IIA grant.
• Approved consultant services contracts with Bilinguals, Inc. student screenings and Learning Curve Consultants, LLC professional development sessions.
• Approved a career exploration program agreement with North Shore LIJ/Huntington Hospital for Huntington High School students involved in the internship program.
• Authorized the addition of six individuals to the district's substitute teacher list, including Michael Catania, Nicole Costello, Stephen Fitts, Lisa Karasik, Desirae Stropoli and Kylie Hirsch. They will be paid $90 per day when they work.