Huntington School Briefs
The Huntington School District budgeted for a two percent increase in its transportation costs for the 2011/12 school year. The actual increase will be 1.45 percent, saving the district approximately $44,000, according to Assistant Superintendent David H. Grackin. The contract is tied to the increase in the Consumer Price Index from May to May. The CPI increased 2.9 percent during that period.
Huntington's agreement with Huntington Coach Corp. calls for a transportation cost increase equal to half of the increase in the CPI or 1.45 percent. The savings came as welcome news for district officials.
Summer BOE Meetings
The Huntington School Board will hold public meeting on Monday, August 8 and Monday, August 29 at 7 p.m. in the J. Taylor Finley Middle School large group instruction room. An agenda will be posted on the district's website at www.hufsd.edu several days in advance of each meeting.
Contino Stays Busy
Louis Contino will head to Emerson College in Boston in a few weeks. The Huntington High School Class of 2011 member is staying busy this summer. He's taught computer graphics in the OOMPAH summer arts enrichment program and is working as a "box boy" for a local home health care company.
"I drive around to different offices all over New York, including Babylon, Kings Park, Queens and Westbury," said Mr. Contino about the "box boy" position. "I distribute checks, mail and packages to theses offices. My fellow box boys and I must also move and arrange old and new incoming mail in the storage areas which requires a lot of lifting heavy boxes."
Finley Students Play Carnegie Hall
J. Taylor Finley Middle School students Annalise Mozer and Melany Lanham-Ciancia are up-and-coming violinists. The duo takes privates lessons with a teacher in Greenlawn who also happens to be on the faculty of the School for Strings in Manhattan.
This past spring, the two teenagers were asked to play at Carnegie Hall with a group of other violin and cello players from around the country who are either past or present students of the School of Strings. The concert helped celebrate the school's 40th anniversary. "It was truly a sight to behold," parent Liz Mozer said. "Most definitely a proud parent's moment."
600 Pairs of Shoes Collected
A Huntington School District shoe drive to benefit the international charity Soles 4 Souls collected more than 600 pairs of shoes, according to organizer Linda Costello-Roth, a special education chairperson. The shoes were boxed up in the J. Taylor Middle School large group instruction room and shipped.
Cody Jacobs Garners Awards
Cody Jacobs graduated from Huntington High School on a high note last month. She is headed to Concordia University in Canada to study photography and anthropology.
During Huntington's senior academic awards night, Ms. Jacobs received several prestigious awards.
Ms. Jacobs earned the Jagoda Scholarship and also received the Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts Award in Photography and the St. John's University Women in Science Award.
"I didn't know what to expect when I went to the senior academic award night," Ms. Jacobs said. "It was a wonderful way of rewarding the Class of 2011's students for our accomplishments during our years at Huntington High School. I am very proud and grateful to have received a $100 photography award, the $1000 Jagoda History Scholarship and a Woman in Science Award! It was an awesome night!"
Budget Transfers Approved
Huntington School Board members approved two budget transfers at their July 5 meeting. The transfers covered expenses related to the Blue Devil marching band visual instructor ($500) and Southdown School special education teacher supply orders ($300).
Art Supply Bids
Huntington School Board members approved art supply bid awards at their July 5 meeting. Trustees awarded the bids to B&H Photo ($5,042.66), Ceramic Supply ($349), Freestyle ($3,771.76), Porter's Camera Store ($2,106.14) and Stained Glass Workshop ($316).
Athletic Supply Bid Awards
Huntington School Board members approved athletic supply bid awards at their July 5 meeting. Trustees awarded the bids to Absolute Fencing Gear, Inc. ($1,230.10), Aztec Sports Long Island ($5,339.40), Concept 2 Rowing ($934.05), GTM Sportswear ($3,128), Longstreth Sporting Goods ($978.45), MF Athletic ($2,690.45), Neff Company ($10,662.79), Passon's/Sports Supply ($6,311.35), Port Jefferson Sporting Goods ($17,878.17) and South Shore Outdoor ($4,707.98).
Contracts Approved
Huntington School Board members approved six contracts at their July 5 meeting. Trustees gave a green light to agreements with the Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, New York, The Eden II programs in Bethpage, Kathy Wright (teacher of the deaf services), Labor Education & Community Service Agency, Inc. (employee assistance program), SCOPE Education Services and Woodward Children's Center in Freeport (special education services).
District Renews Employee Assistance Program Contract
Huntington School Board members have renewed a contract with the Labor Education & Community Services Agency, Inc. for an employee assistance program during the 2011/12 school year.
LECSA offers counselors, if needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and a monthly newsletter. Counselors provide assessments, short term counseling to employees and their families, a link to therapists, treatment programs, self-help groups, financial counseling agencies and even legal advice.
LECSA also provides social service agency referrals for employees in immediate need, guidance regarding how to approach an individual concerning their substance use and getting them into a treatment program and education about appropriate behavior and prevention of problems in the work environment.
The new contract will run from July 1 through June 30, 2011 and cost $16,150. Payments will be made in quarterly installments of $4,037.50. Employee orientation, stress management, anger management, sexual harassment and supervisory training are workshops that are available under the contract, in addition to the many other services.
"We have a track record in working with the aftermath of crisis," states a section of multi-page LECSA service agreement booklet presented to trustees. "When traumatic events occur, we are there with the appropriate support necessary to help employees cope with catastrophic events. We can work with both individuals and entire work units to help resolve anger, fear, blame, shame and guilt. We understand what psychological responses to expect."