Huntington School Board Notes
Huntington School Board members took time at the beginning of their meeting last week to honor the Huntington High School golf team, which won the dual meet and tournament championships this fall. The squad, coached by Michael Marinello, featured many talented athletes. The Blue Devils compiled a 10-0 mark in league competition.
Trustees also discussed revisions to the district calendar necessitated by Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter that followed the superstorm. Schools were closed for nine days because of the two storms. Classes will now be in session during a week in February originally slated for mid-winter vacation and also on previously scheduled contingency days in March and May.
Superintendent James W. Polansky gave a short report on his ongoing investigation into the feasibility of establishing a STEM magnet program at Jack Abrams School.
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Approved the resignation of Woodhull School music teacher Pamela Jacovina, effective Nov. 20. She has accepted another position.
• Approved long-term substitute teacher appointments for Jessica Castaneda (Southdown/Woodhull music through June 30), Thomas Leninger (Huntington High School special education through approximately Jan. 3) and Susan Nastro (Finley English through approximately Nov. 9).
• Granted tenure to district social worker Linda Kohan, effective Jan. 5.
• Approved Valerie Dela-Acevedo to work as a three-hour monitor at Jefferson School, effective Nov. 20.
• Appointed Melissa Jasinski as the faculty advisor for the Finley Yorkers club.
• Appointed Roy Jiminez as the junior varsity girls’ basketball coach.
• Approved K-2 Saturday Academy staff members, including program administrator Carmen Kasper, instructors Angela Berner, Donna O’Shaughnessy, Nancy Giorgos, Vivian Joseph, Karen Melara, Debra Ravo, Soraya Triessl, Claudia Gonzalez, Ashley Williams and teacher aide Miryam Palacio. Ms. Kasper will be paid $1,960. Each instructor will earn $48.97 per hour and Ms. Palacio will be compensated at the rate of $19.99 per hour for up to two hours per week. The program, which runs through May 18, is funded through a Title III grant.
• Approved budget transfers from one account to another to cover costs associated with the purchase of workbooks and supplies for the Saturday Academy program ($15,000) and an additional Transfinder license and updating of Nassau and Suffolk maps for the transportation department ($2,750).
• Approved Walter Gesla to work as an instructor in the district’s adult education program. He will be paid $25 per hour.
• Approved up to 50 hours of paid review sessions for January Regents exams. Teachers providing the review classes will earn $48.97 per hour.
• Approved the addition of Tina Allocca, Richard Enderle, Melissa Ryan, Brittany Schulde and Ryan Winter to the district’s substitute teacher list. They will be paid $90 per day when they work.
• Approved Sterlin Jamison (custodian), James Lawrence (custodian), Teisha Smith (food service) Antonette Frazier (teacher aide) and Melissa Ryan (teacher aide) to work as substitute employees. Sub custodians are paid $10.50 per hour. Food service and teacher aide subs are paid $9 per hour.
• Authorized Anita’s Student of Dance & Theatre Arts to use the district’s facilities. The company, which is based at 508 Larkfield Road in East Northport, plans on using the Huntington High School auditorium for a dress rehearsal and recital over a three-day period in the spring.
• Approved a special education services contract with the Glen Cove City School District for the education of a school age student residing in the Huntington School District but attending classes in Glen Cove.
• Accepted the donation of a long list of technology related equipment from Huntington parent Matt Harris. The gear is worth about $5,000 and will be used to upgrade the sound system in the Jack Abrams School auditorium.
• Accepted the donation of three 15’-20’ Cleveland pear trees from Huntington parents Jim and Jane Brown. The trees will be planted between the bleachers and tennis courts at Huntington High School. They have an estimated value of $600.
• Approved a change order in the amount of $10,000 decreasing the value of a contract with G. Construction Enterprises, LLC to $139,600 to cover the cost associated with replacing the in-ground fuel oil storage tank at Woodhull Intermediate School.
• Approved a contract with Allan Rotto Consultants, Inc. of Hewlett to conduct a review of the district’s telecom billing charges, including services, usage and taxes to determine if there were errors, discrepancies or available savings.
• Approved a consultant services contract with Creative Voice Development Group of Albany, New York for an adult education program voice-over seminar. The company will be paid $87.50 for the one-night seminar.
• Approved a contract with Eastern Suffolk BOCES for field trip transportation services at estimated annual cost of $40,000.