Huntington School Board Notes
Huntington School Board members have approved a revised 2014/15 calendar after schools were closed three times due to snowstorms this winter. Schools will now be open on Thursday and Friday, April 9-10 and Friday, May 22.
Trustees also approved the district calendar for 2015/16. A revised Huntington School Board meeting schedule was also approved. Copies of both documents are posted on the Huntington School District’s website at www.hufsd.edu.
Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School students and faculty members were on hand and made a presentation that offered highlights of their academic program, including a demonstration.
Superintendent James W. Polansky’s made his first presentation of the 2015/16 budget development cycle, which provided a general overview of the preliminary spending plan and the state imposed tax levy limit.
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Approved leave replacement appointments for teachers Christine Burns (high school/art), Allison Conlon (Flower Hill/classroom), Kristen Nersesian (high school/math) and Dena Mortell (Finley/art).
• Approved a leave of absence for Huntington High School art teacher Ayallah Jeddah, effective April 1 through June 30.
• Authorized the return of teachers Ayallah Jeddah (art) and Nicole Lynch (music) from leaves of absence, effective July 1.
• Authorized teachers Joanne Cicio, Christine Lofaro, Brenden McGowan, Donna Moro and Monica Racz to perform up to six hours each of academic coaching/professional development. Their stipends of $49.95 per hour will be covered by a state grant.
• Approved numerous club faculty advisors, including Kimberly Finneran (Finley/community club), Michael Ferreira (Finley/robotics club), Jennifer Poach (Finley/newspaper-literary), Kristin Fortunato (high school/Latin honor society), Aimee Antorino (high school/newspaper-printing), Edward Florea (high school/newspaper-printing), Brian Reynolds (high school/robotics), Jason Mainville (high school/stage crew through December 31, 2014), Christopher Helmke (high school/stage crew: January 1 through June 30).
• Authorized teachers Peter Crugnale, Jordan Gould and Lauren Desiderio to work up to six hours each as chaperones of Huntington High School students competing at the National History Day Long Island regional competition at Hofstra University on March 8. They will be paid $32.33 per hour.
• Authorized teachers Tara Adams, Frank Battista, Jason Giachetti, Chelsea Jablon, Mitchell Malle, Claude Masear, Josephine Rosado, Christopher Scarnato and Brian Stellato to work up to six hours each as chaperones of district students performing in the NYSSMA festival. They will be paid $32.33 per hour.
• Appointed Keith Meyers as Woodhull School’s audio/visual coordinator.
• Authorized Eileen Gonzalez to work in the J. Taylor Finley Middle School English language learners after school program. She will provide up to 22 one-hour sessions during the 2014/15 school year and be paid $49.95 per hour.
• Appointed Thomas Maloney (boys’ JV lacrosse) and Eric Mininni (assistant varsity fencing) as district athletic coaches.
• Appointed Christopher Helmke as a district stage manager for the winter and spring months. He will be paid $32.33 per hour.
• Authorized Angela Berner, Carmen Kasper, Marybeth Robinette and Nancy Wilson to engage in Universal Pre-K curriculum and professional develop work. Their stipends of $1,500 each will be funded through a state grant.
• Appointed Kellyanne Citeno to the faculty of the Saturday Institute program. She will work up to 34 hours at the rate of $49.95 per hour.
• Approved non-instructional appointments for Flower Hill School teacher aide Lenore Baker, Washington School clerk typist Tracy McGarty and Flower Hill School lead food service worker Karen Cronin.
• Approved a salary schedule change for Huntington High School teacher Amanda Scott.
• Authorized Heather Gebhardt, Kenneth Gilbert, Gabrielle Gurrieri, Ivano Naccarato, Pamela Perez, Morgan Stanford and Natalie Taback to work as per diem substitute teachers.
• Authorized Duke Litchmore (custodian) and Richard Wilson (security guard) to work as per diem substitute employees.
• Authorized Sandra Brusca, Anna Naccarato, Victoria Petruzzelli and Trudy Somers to work up to 3.5 hours as chaperones at Woodhull School’s pasta night.
• Authorized Pina Keane to serve as a teacher aide in J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s after school program. She will work for up to 21 one-hour sessions and be paid $23.80 per hour.
• Accepted the resignations of Flower Hill School food service worker Karen Cronin and Huntington High School security guard Kevin Thorbourne.
• Authorized Margaret Florio, Clara Krapf and Maryanne O’Marra to perform clerical services for up to six days of kindergarten registration sessions.
• Approved budget transfers to cover costs associated with the INTEL science competition ($1,765.26) and physical education/athletic department travel ($325).
• Authorized the disposal of four SMART Boards that are in poor condition. One is located at Huntington High School and three are at J. Taylor Finley Middle School.
• Accepted a donation of a 15 inch viola and accompanying solo music from Lawrence DiBiase, the father of a Huntington High School graduate. The donation has an estimated value of $550.
• Approved a special education services agreement with the Northport-East Northport and Syosset school districts.
• Approved a resolution to modify the grade level configuration at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School to include grades K-6, effective July 1, 2015. This will allow the district to reconfigure the grade level structure of the “bridge” program class as needed.
• Ratified a memorandum of agreement to permit members of the Associated Teachers of Huntington to contribute sick days to a contractually established sick bank.
• Authorized the return of $40,717.52 to the district’s capital reserve funds, which represents the surplus sum following the completion of six voter approved projects.
• Accepted a donation from the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education in the amount of $5,173.49 to support eight different mini grants awarded to teachers.
• Accepted a donation of $4,980 from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation to the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School to cover costs associated with the purchase of a greenhouse, raised beds for gardening and an aeroponics system.