Huntington School Board Notes
Huntington School Board approved five retirements during a meeting of trustees on May 7 in the Jack Abrams School auditorium. The employees who are retiring include Kaaren Palumbo (special education chairperson/effective August 10), Thomas Masone (Huntington High School science teacher/June 30), Joan K. Sciacchitano (Finley special education secretary/ August 31), Ann Salmon (Finley teacher aide) and Connie DeGrassi (Huntington High School nurse/June 30).
Trustees also accepted the resignation of Huntington High School science teacher Michael Procaccini (effective June 30) and authorized teachers Hildi Stanford (Southdown special education/effective Sept. 1), Jennifer Marsh (Washington ESL/May 29) and Kathryn Carey (Finley speech therapist/Sept. 1) to return from child care related leaves of absence.
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Appointed Sammy Gergis as assistant superintendent for business, effective July 1.
• Appointed Brendan Cusack as Huntington High School assistant principal, effective July 1.
• Approved the immediate creation of the Huntington Union Free School District Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund.
• Authorized Robert Barca to work as a long-term substitute social studies at J. Taylor Finley Middle School through June 4.
• Appointed Mardella Edwards as a part-time clerical worker in the buildings and grounds department office, effective May 8.
• Approved additional work related to the summer special education program for Linda Roth (chairperson, 7-12), Kaaren Palumbo (chairperson, K-4) and Kathleen McCourt (high school coordinator).
• Authorized numerous summer curriculum writing projects for up to 63 writers. They will be paid $48.97 per hour based upon the number of approved hours they work.
• Authorized additional work for part-time teacher Ozlem Artukmac related to state math assessment scoring.
• Approved Kara Horn to work as a substitute teacher in the district's alternative high school program. She will be paid $53.25 per hour when she works.
• Authorized Christine Bene, Emmagene Brown, Mary Lou Brown, Concetta Cagnino, Rita Carino, Margaret Creighton, Edie DeGennaro and Janet Lentini to work as clerks at the May 15 school budget vote and trustee election.
• Appointed Victoria Lombardi (.75) and Gina Colica (.25) to serve as sophomore class faculty advisors.
• Approved extra work for Angela Berner (ELA) and Nancy Allard (ELA and Math, grades 3-8) related to the scoring of state assessments.
• Authorized the addition of Carol Scully (security) and Lisa Karasik (teacher aide) to the list of substitute district employees.
• Approved a consultant services contract with Gina Castaldo for three days of workshops on "Common Core for ELA K-3." She will be paid at the rate of $1,050 per day.
• Appointed Huntington School Board Vice President John P. Paci, III to serve as election chairperson of the May 15 budget vote and trustee election.
• Approved bid awards received through Educational Data Services, Inc. related to athletic reconditioning, computer/security equipment, copiers-lease/purchase, interactive whiteboards and related products, general classroom supplies and office/computer supplies.
• Awarded a bid to Premier Agendas, Inc. for student agendas for Woodhull Intermediate School, Finley Middle School and Huntington High Schools.
• Awarded a bid to School Mate for student agendas for Flower Hill, Jefferson, Southdown and Washington primary schools.
• Approved a contract with CBIZ Valuation Group, LLC related to capital asset valuation and inventory updating services.
• Approved a special education services contract with the Glen Cove City School District.
• In response to an RFP for home tutoring services, approved a list of providers, including Syosset Tutoring, Creative Tutoring, Top Grade and Islip Tutoring Service.
• Approved budget transfers between account codes to cover the costs associated with home teaching ($48,000), FAX machine maintenance contract ($120), supplemental education services required by the state ($65,000) and musical instrument repairs ($1,736.38).
• Held first readings of the following policies: Dignity for All Students Act (No. 7550) and Facility Use (No. 3270).