Huntington School Board Notes
Huntington School Board members recently honored Jefferson Primary School students involved in the building’s new leadership team program. Trustees were treated to a presentation regarding the leadership initiative during a public meeting late last month.
Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide, school psychologist Dr. Kathleen Mallen-Ozimkowski, special education teacher Renee Garcia and kindergarten teachers Suzanne Catrini, and Mrs. Yesenia Cortes took turns at the microphone discussing various aspects of the program.
The student leadership team meets several times each month to learn about the qualities found in highly effective leaders. The group plans to participate in several school and community outreach activities throughout the year, including food, coat and toy drives. While the team is in its infancy, student members have already begun to exemplify what leadership is all about according to Mrs. Capitulo-Saide.
Trustees also took the following actions during the meeting:
• Approved temporary replacement appointments for Dana Cavanagh (music/Woodhull), Jarrad Richter (social studies/high school) and Danielle Reminick (classroom/Woodhull) to serve as substitute teachers.
• Authorized Aimee Antorino, Fred Bisogno, Erik Bruckbauer, Nicole Cooper, Lauren Desiderio, Terrance Doran, Nancy Goddard, Jordan Gould, Kara Horn, Victoria Lombardi and Kelly Quintero to work as per diem substitute teachers in the alternative high school program. They will be paid $54.32 per hour when their services are needed.
• Appointed Glenn Edwards, Josephine Rosado, Catherine Croke, Timothy Madden, Natalee Schaefer, Joseph Cohen, Dame Forbes, Judy Pazienza, Camille Tedeschi, Jennifer Rommel, Carmela Mastragostino and Luz Marotta to serve as teacher mentors during the 2014/15 school year. They will be paid $750 each.
• Appointed Paige Tyree to work as a Huntington High School data expert. Her $1,500 stipend is covered by a state grant.
• Authorized Christine Lofaro to engage in curriculum writing related to elementary pilot of virtual learning modules. She will be paid $49.95 per hour for up to 15 hours of work, which will be covered by a state grant.
• Authorized Huntington High School deans Paul Caleca, Robert Gilmor III and Ronald Wilson to engage in home visits and community walks related to the district’s family engagement initiative. They will each work up to four hours at a rate of $49.95 per hour, which is covered by a state grant.
• Appointed Samantha Lobue, Michael Marchena and Jessica Torres to the marching band staff.
• Authorized Paula Gasparino, Diane Grassi, Patricia Hearn and Donna Moro to engage in up to six hours of science curriculum writing at a rate of $49.95 per hour.
• Authorized Joann Kavanagh to provide up to 20 hours of professional development classes related to technology. She will be paid $100 per hour, which is covered through a Title II grant.
• Appointed Patricia Avelli, Keith Mattis, Susan Nastro, Matthew Perlongo, Jennifer Poach and Camille Tedeschi to the Saturday virtual learning program staff. They were authorized to work up to 60 hours each at $49.95 per hour, which is covered through a state grant.
• Authorized Lauren Biscardi and Brendan McGowan to provide a two hour parent Common Core learning standards workshop. Their stipend of $49.95 per hour is covered by a state grant.
• Appointed Soraya Triesel to serve as parent university coordinator. Her $3,000 stipend is covered through a state grant.
• Appointed Stephen Sesterak as acting head custodian at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School.
• Appointed Bik Bialkowski as a 12 month clerk typist in the buildings and grounds department office.
• Granted short-term leaves of absence to Huntington High School teacher aides Kim Schaeffer and Elizabeth Meoli.
• Approved salary changes for teachers Heather Barfuss, Lauren Biscardi, Nicole Cooper, Evelyn D’Andraia, Keith Mattis, Donna Moro and Brian Stellato effective February 1, 2015.
• Authorized the addition of teacher aides Jennifer Nerzig-Gross and Latisha Passmore, security guard Dwayne Sair and teacher Lauren Soskil to this district’s substitute employee list.
• Approved budget transfers from one account to another as per audit requirements to cover costs associated with employee retirement incentives ($394,000), Workers’ Compensation ($408,000), salaries and contracted services ($20,500), non-instructional salaries ($154,250), Highsteppers competition expenses ($1,200) and science kit supplies ($22,000).
• Approved the disposal of more than three dozen pieces of electronic equipment from Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School that is either obsolete or in poor condition. The items include televisions, video cassette recorders, CD/DVD players and overhead projectors.
• Approved a bid award to Core BTS in the amount of $1,167,936.95 related to the districtwide technology upgrade project. It represents the lowest proposal submitted per state contract pricing. The bid amount reflects LAN upgrade ($498,750), wireless expansion upgrade ($344,050), server virtualization upgrade ($177,250), Barracuda mail archive system upgrade ($40,886.95) and districtwide support services ($107,000). The bid quotes were reviewed by BBS, the district’s architectural firm, which is based in Patchogue.
• Approved overnight field trips for sixth graders to the Greenkill Outdoor Educational Center in Hugenot, New York on February 3-6, 2015 and February 10-13, 2015.
• Approved an overnight field trip for Huntington High School’s Habitat for Humanity chapter to Birmingham, Alabama on February 14-21, 2015.
• Authorized the addition of Film Emporium, Inc. to the list of organizations approved to use the district’s facilities. The company wants to use the hallways of Huntington High School for filming. No district staff or students will be used for or in any filming.