Letter to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer dated November 20, 2012 and attached Resolution of the EWSD Board of Education re: Budget Control Act
Letter to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand dated November 20, 2012 and attached Resolution of the EWSD Board of Education re: Budget Control Act
Letter to U.S. Congressman Steve Israel dated November 20, 2012 and attached Resolution of the EWSD Board of Education re: Budget Control Act
Letter to Timothy Kremer, Executive Director of NYSSBA, dated November 20, 2012 and attached Resolution of the EWSD Board of Education re: Budget Control Act
Letter to Jon Kaiman dated November 20, 2012, Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead with EWSD BOE Resolution
Video - The School Tax Story - CBS2 News CBS News Report from October 5, 2012 examines school taxes in Nassau County. BOE President Mark Kamberg and resident Sheri Baker were interviewed for the report
Transcript of the CBS2News Report
New York Post article - October 6, 2012 - 2% tax Hike in Nassau County?
Board of Education Announcement of New Superintendent - June 6, 2012
The Board of Education, together with support of the district community, was pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Elaine Kanas at its Special Meeting held on June 6, 2012, effective August 1, 2012.
The application process collected nearly 40 applications. The Board interviewed more than 10 applicants, bringing back two of the applicants for final round interviews. The final round interview process consisted of representatives from the following constituency groups, Parents, Community Members, Administration and Staff.
Dr. Kanas received her doctorate from Columbia University in Education Curriculum and Teaching. For the past four years she has served as Superintendent of Valley Stream 30, an academically high achieving 1500 student school district on Long Island. Before serving as Superintendent in Valley Stream 30, Dr. Kanas was the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel for five years, in the Carmel Central School District. She has also taught at Columbia University Teachers College as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, instructing masters and doctoral students in designing curriculum for K-12 and higher education.
Dr. Kanas has played an active role in curriculum and educational leadership on the state, regional and local levels. She presently sits on the New York State Education Department ELA Advisory Panel, grades pre-K - 12. As a current member of the Nassau Superintendents Curriculum Council, she is very involved in curriculum leadership for the county. She also serves as a member of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents Executive Board and is currently the leader of the Nassau County Southwest Quadrant of Superintendents. Working in collaboration with her own District APPR Committee, she has supported the development of a coherent framework for teacher evaluation and professional development that provides both high standards of staff accountability and opportunities for professional growth, linked to successful student achievement and development.
Dr. Kanas is proud of the accomplishments that she has had at Valley Stream 30 which include strong fiscal management and oversight that has resulted in maintaining and enhancing program while continuing to be responsive to community fiscal restraints through increased efficiencies and focused program and operation review. Additionally, under her leadership, the District has been able to make major infrastructure improvements without incurring interest costs for the taxpayers by the successful adoption and funding of capital reserve projects. Curriculum and Instruction accomplishments include enriched literacy, math and science curriculums, enhanced arts opportunities, an articulated Response to Intervention Program that addressed student need at inception, new academic challenge programs and an increased focus on the integration of student emotional and social development linked with cognitive development. Dr. Kanas has also made a strong commitment to public engagement and the development of collaborative partnerships and structures for shared input and decision making to support a coherent focus for her District
The Board of Education, together with our students, staff, parents and community, welcome Dr. Kanas to our district. Under her leadership, we look forward to working collaboratively in making our great district even better.
Board Announcement - May 25, 2012
The President of the Board of Education is pleased to announce that at the June 6th Work Session / Special Meeting it is the President's intention to put on the agenda for approval by the Board of Education the appointment of Dr. Elaine Kanas to the position of Superintendent of Schools of the EWSD effective August 1, 2012.
There will be a short reception following the vote. All are welcome.
Board of Education Letter - May 7, 2012
The Board of Education thanks the community for all of its ongoing questions and concerns in regard to the Superintendent Search.
The application process for candidates was closed on April 27th and all first round interviews were completed by April 30th.
Last week the Board of Education held second round interviews. Three representative groups of constituents, each group being approximately 10-15 people, from all parts of our community, had the opportunity to meet and interview the second round candidates. This week the Board is completing the debriefing process from those interviews and we hope to have more information for you shortly.
As always, ongoing input can be done on the district web site to allow for access from all constituents.
Thank you.
The Board of Education
BOE Superintendent Selection Process – April 23, 2012
The Board of Education thanks the community for all of its suggestions, questions and concerns. We have been listening. We want all constituents to recognize the effort that is being put into the superintendent search process and want everyone to feel a part of the process. It is for this reason that we have tried to be open and inclusive in each of the steps that have been taken so far.
Within 24 hours of Dr. Lewis' announcement of her resignation, the Board invited representatives of the district unions, non- aligned administrators and the PTO to meet with the Board. In addition, a page was set up on the district website to allow all constituents to contribute their comments on the qualities they want for the next superintendent, the same question asked at the above noted meeting. This way, all constituents have a chance to participate equally and fairly.
In addition to the various advertisements that have been placed, the Board is privileged to have at its disposal a brain trust of experts that have allowed for the creation of a target list of candidates. This list was formed between recommendations of our attorney and several other professionals with vast contacts within the education field. Within days of Dr. Lewis’ announcement, we began interviewing. Since then the Board again met and spoke with the various constituents noted above, updating them on the status of the search.
The application process for candidates remains open until April 27th. It is the Board’s plan to have all first round interviews completed by that time. If the Board feels that there are candidates worth bringing forward, it is the Board’s intent to bring those candidates in for second interviews during the week of April 30th. At this same time a representative group of constituents, from various parts of our community, will have the opportunity to meet the candidates as well.
The Board’s goal is clear, to have an exceptional person lead this district by July 1st. We will not settle for anything less. We recognize that without the proper candidate this will not be possible. If an Interim superintendent is needed to begin the school year, the Board will indeed appoint one, and continue our search for the best Superintendent for the district.
BOE STATEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY re: Resignation of Dr. Lewis - 04.03.12
On Tuesday, April 3rd, the Board of Education received the resignation of our Superintendent, Dr. Lorna R. Lewis, effective July 31, 2012. The item will be placed on the Board Agenda for resolution and acceptance at the next district business meeting on April 23, 2012.
The Board would like to thank Dr. Lewis for her 5 years of service to the district. Under her leadership the East Williston School District has had much success. Academically, our Willets Road School was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and The Wheatley School was named one of the top 100 High Schools in America. We have added new program initiatives and have expanded technology as well as received countless accolades and achievements for our students at all levels. Physically our facilities have dramatically improved, with new roofs on two of our three buildings, new boilers at Wheatley, new windows at North Side and many facility repairs. And finally, fiscally, we had a successful Bond initiative, have received improved audits and Moody’s ratings and last year’s budget to budget increase was the lowest in the last 20 year history of the district.
The Board is proud of Dr. Lewis' achievements and plans to properly recognize her at the year-end retirement meeting. We wish Dr. Lewis much success in her new endeavors.
Effective immediately, the Board has commenced a search for the next leader of our district. It is our intention to have our next Superintendent in place by the start of the new school year, July 1, 2012. Please be assured that your Board will hire an individual with the vision and commitment for educational excellence that our community has come to expect.
Sincerely,
EWSD Board of Education
FIOS1NEWS - BOE President Mark Kamberg and Superintendent Dr. Lorna R. Lewis newsclip on Sewer Tax lawsuit - http://fios1news.com/longisland/node/11700
CBS - Newsclip - BOE President Mark Kamberg and Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Fitzpatrick - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/20/cash-strapped-nassau-county-goes-after-19-school-districts-with-toilet-tax/#.T2kbAM67suY.email
BOE Letter to Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel dated February 14, 2012
BOE Letter to John G. King, Jr., Commissioner NYSED dated February 7, 2012
BOE Letter to Merryl Tisch, Chancellor NYSED dated February 3, 2012
Letter from Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel dated February 2, 2012 acknowledging help with the APPR Implementation Cost Association Act of 2012
BOE Resolution dated February 13, 2012 - Supporting the APPR Implementation Cost Association Act of 2012
LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION - January 2012
Happy New Year!
Unfortunately, in the business of schools, the news is not all happy.
Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his State of the State address and his Executive Budget & Reform Plan. We commend Governor Cuomo’s willingness to take on what has always been perceived as sacred cows, such as pension reform, tenure issues, teacher and principal evaluations, as well as the ever-increasing high taxes across the state; but the increasing costs to districts to implement these proposals, without mandate relief, just further burdens school districts with new additional costs.
The Tax Cap, which in actuality is not a cap on taxes but rather is a cap on the tax levy, does not cap an individual’s school tax bill. The law applies solely to the school tax levy. Increases in individual tax bills are set by formulas created by the County and this will continue to be true. This is significantly different than what taxpayers have been led to believe.
The East Williston Board of Education supports property tax relief. New York has some of the highest property taxes in the country, but the legislature has yet to provide schools with meaningful solutions to address the biggest cost drivers in our budgets. So although the new “Tax Cap” now restricts the amount of revenue that can be raised through taxes, without relief, the expenses that drive school budgets will continue to significantly increase.
In regard to the recent news on Principal and Teacher Evaluations, the Board of Education wants you to know that contrary to the Governor’s statement that districts in New York have not agreed to the new evaluation guidelines, the EWSD has indeed reached just such an agreement. Our district was one of the first districts in the state to complete negotiations with its unions and has put an agreement in place. Districts that have not complied with the new evaluation guidelines could lose part of their state aid in January 2013. Thanks to the negotiations and subsequent agreement reached between the Board, Superintendent and the Unions, our district will not lose this state aid.
Taken in total, the Governor has addressed several longstanding issues pressing public education; yet, you cannot cap what you cannot control. The Governor has included more cost shifts to school districts that, if enacted by the legislature, would amount to new additional unfunded mandates. These cost shifts include diverting cost increases for preschool special education from Counties to school districts. These increases, together with Nassau County’s efforts to shift the burden of its responsibilities to school districts by way of the recently created Sewer Tax and the recently enacted ‘property tax challenge refunding process’ could increase the EWSD Budget by several hundred thousand dollars, adding costs at a time when a Tax Cap is in place. These costs will take away funds that should be used for children.
One thing is certain - the new tax cap legislation is likely to complicate the struggle to find meaningful tax relief and to build and sustain world-class schools. Your Board of Education will continue to lobby our elected officials, meeting regularly with Senator Martins, Assemblywoman Schimel, Commissioner of Education Dr. John King, and the New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch.
We urge you to attend our Budget workshops and to continue to submit your input to your Board of Education.
The Board of Education
Mark Kamberg, President
Robert Freier, Vice President
Robert V. Fallarino, Esq., Trustee
David Keefe, Trustee
Barbara Slone, Trustee
Letter from the Board of Education - October 2011
As we reflect on some of the highlights from the past year, we are excited about the new school year ahead and the challenges it will bring in sustaining our outstanding programs. Last year was a tremendous academic year, with 120 AP Scholars, 4 National AP Scholars and 1 Siemens Science Finalist (4th in the Nation). We are proud to say that we had a 100% Graduation Rate, that 100% of our graduates received Regents diplomas and 83% received Advanced Regents diplomas. The average SAT verbal score was 585 and math score was 619. We also had an incredible year of drama and musical productions and we want you to know that the community is always invited to attend all of our productions and concert events.
Looking ahead this year, our budget continues to preserve such unique experiences as Outdoor Education, Long Island Philharmonic, Science Research and Friday Night Recreation while continuing to expand our AP offerings, foreign language offerings, music history curriculums and more. We are a community that continues to value the collaborative effort that we all share in and we thank our community for its input. It is through this process that the Board of Education was presented with and ultimately adopted a Grade Weighting Policy for The Wheatley School. The Board continues to ask for input and guidance from its many experienced and willing volunteer community members. In this regard, the Board has available space in some of its committees and applications are available on the District’s website. We welcome everyone’s participation.
Equally important to our academic initiatives is the safety of our children and the maintenance of our facilities. Our staff and student ID card program provides safer access to our buildings. The work on our Energy Performance Contract has begun, with the installation of new boilers at Wheatley, new lighting fixtures throughout our district and many more energy saving and contract guaranteed dollar saving initiatives.
Due to diminishing State and Federal aid, the new laws and regulations imposing a property tax cap and the establishment of a new evaluation process for teachers and principals, we will be confronting new and challenging issues in the year ahead. The goal of the new evaluation system, set by the State, is to improve the practice of teaching and ultimately, student achievement. Managing this district under a tax cap will continue to require careful planning, looking at different budget scenarios and speaking to our community residents. While the cap on local property taxes is being presented to the public as an economic salvation, without relief from our legislature from costly mandates it will be almost impossible to prevent staff layoffs and reduced educational offerings in schools. Moody’s Financial Services has warned that the tax cap could hurt districts’ financial health and affect debt ratings.
The Board of Education thanks the community for acknowledging the hard work it did to bring you a fair and record low budget as witnessed by the almost 2-1 Yes vote in support of this year’s budget. We will continue those efforts with our successful Community Workshops, in an effort to allow all concerns to be voiced. Even with fewer resources, the Board, together with the Administration, will continue to move the district toward excellence, equity, and innovation in everything we do. We hope that everyone will take part.
Wishing all a successful year.
Sincerely,
The Board of Education
Mark Kamberg - President
Robert Freier – Vice President
Robert Fallarino – Trustee
David Keefe – Trustee
Barbara Slone - Trustee
2011-12 Board of Education Goals
BOE Grade Weighting Resolution submitted to the NYSSBA - August 10, 2022
BOE Press Release - June 13, 2011
The Board of Education is pleased to announce that the district has settled negotiations with the Teachers Assistants and District Substitute Units.
Both units settled for a four-year contract that includes a freeze in wages during the first year of the contract, with an average 1.14% wage increase over the term of the contract.
The Board of Education is happy that it was able to obtain two more settled contracts before the completion of the school year leaving only the Custodial Unit unsettled. This Board will continue to work together with its units to protect the future of our children and this district.
Mark Kamberg – President
Robert Freier – Vice President
Robert Fallarino – Trustee
David Keefe – Trustee
Barbara Slone - Trustee
Letter from Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel dated July 13, 2011 acknowledging BOE Resolution dated April 27, 2011 posted below re: School Bus Mandate Relief
Board of Ed Resolution dated April 27, 2011 - Support of the School Bus Mandate Relief Act
Letter from Board of Education - April 27, 2011
The Board of Education is pleased to announce that the district has settled negotiations with the Administrative and Clerical units.
The Administrators settled for a four-year contract that includes a freeze in wages during the first year of the contract, with an average 1.3% wage increase over the term of the contract. The Clerical agreed to a four-year contract that includes a zero percent increase in the first year and averages a 1.14% wage increase over the term of the contract.
Administrators will continue to contribute 20% to their health insurance while Clerical will continue to contribute 18% towards their health, except for new Clerical hires that contribute 20%. Additionally the Clerical unit has agreed to a Flat opt out health payment, in lieu of taking the benefit, saving the district an estimated $85,000 over the life of the contract.
Earlier this month Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature agreed on a budget that cuts school aid $1.3 Billion dollars (6%) without giving school districts the mandate relief they so sorely need in order to control escalating costs. As reported by Newsday, school taxes are heading sharply higher on thousands of homes and businesses across Long Island. The Governor believes the solution is in a 2% Tax Cap recently approved by the State Senate If approved by the State Assembly, the tax cap would go into effect in the 2012-13 budget. Without mandate relief, this could have a devastating effect on school budgets in the future.
The Board of Education recognizes the challenges ahead of us and has acted on the factors within its control. The settling of these contracts will help this district control costs in the coming years. While Albany continues to struggle with the financial consequences of this economy and New York’s fiscal crisis deepens, this Board of Education and school community will continue to work together to protect the future of our children and this district.
Mark Kamberg – President
Robert Freier – Vice President
Robert Fallarino – Trustee
David Keefe – Trustee
Barbara Slone - Trustee
Letter from Board of Education - April, 2011
As members of the Board of Education, we worked diligently to present to the community an operating budget that not only maintains program, but also enhances the quality of education for which our district is well known, all the while being sensitive to the various economic and fiscal realities that affect all of our lives.
Despite the obstacles of decreasing financial support and lack of relief for unfunded mandates from Albany, we managed to bring in next year’s school budget at the lowest budget-to-budget increase this district has seen in the last 20 years.
The settled contracts which included pay freezes for the 2011/2012 school year by our teacher and administrative units, together with the pay freeze announcement by our Superintendent, went a long way in reducing costs for next year. We continue to seek creative ways to contain costs as New York State’s fiscal crisis is expected to worsen and a tax cap scenario looms.
As trustees of our school system, we take seriously the responsibility you entrust to us. We have seen to it that our educational program will remain an outstanding one. We have held the line on expenditures, while presenting modest enhancements in our program and curricular areas, which are outlined in this newsletter. This budget includes a net reduction of four district staff members and reductions in Central Administration codes. In five public budget workshops, the members of the Board of Education considered the recommendations of the Boards’ Financial Advisory Committee, Capital Facilities Advisory Committee, as well as the many residents and students who attended our meetings and shared their thoughts. We assure you that every line of the budget has been scrutinized closely.
Like you, we care deeply about our community and our school system. There is no more important task in our society than educating our young children. We urge you to read this newsletter carefully and attend our May 9th Public Budget Hearing with any questions you have.
Mark Kamberg – President
Bob Freier – Vice President
Robert Fallarino – Trustee
David Keefe – Trustee
Barbara Slone - Trustee
***
Letter from Board of Education to State Representatives - March 16, 2011
Dear Senator Martins, Assemblywoman Schimel and Assemblyman McKevitt,
Long Island is justifiably proud of our schools. Without mandate reform, however, the tax cap proposed by Governor Cuomo will destroy our schools and with them the quality of life in our communities. We know from experience of California with Proposition 13 that blind imposition of a tax cap can result in great damage to our schools, our children, and our communities.
As taxpayers, we of course favor reductions in taxes. But lasting and responsible tax relief will only occur if costly mandates are removed or reformed before any tax cap is instituted, because a tax cap fails to address the root causes of property tax increases. This should include:
1. Enabling school districts to assess local needs for transportation by amending Section 3635 of the Education Law as was proposed in 2009 by Assembly Bill Number: A 01244 and Senate Bill Number: S 1597-A.
2. Reform the method of payment to the state pension systems by:
a. Creating a floor and a ceiling on the Employer Contribution Rate. This floor and ceiling should be based on the actuarial requirements of the Employer Contribution Rate over a defined period of time;
b. Allowing school districts to reserve funds for Teachers’ Retirement system contributions;
c. Allow school districts to amortize pension contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System over a fixed period of years at a reasonable interest rate.
3. Amend the Triborough Amendment to freeze both lane and column movement on the salary scales of individuals working under an expired contract until a successor agreement is reached.
4. Allow school districts to bid out capital projects at competitive rates.
5. Allow school districts, through the state School Board Association or some other representative group, to be involved in the process of negotiations in the New York State Health Insurance Plans.
6. Seek legislation at the federal level which will reduce the onerous testing schedule under the No Child Left Behind Mandate on Adequate Yearly Progress.
7. Change the regulations to reduce many of the roadblocks on the procedures that require due process hearings when both the parents of a special needs child and the school district agree on placement in a non-state-approved private school.
8. Maintain current funding ratios for the Special Education Summer Schools and for 4201 Special Schools.
With these legislative changes, school districts would be better able to control costs, thereby offering real and sustainable tax relief to all New York communities.
Please support these comprehensive reforms now. New York’s students and future depend on it.
Very truly yours,
The East Williston UFSD Board of Education
***
Letter from Board of Education - March 7, 2011
We the BOE are pleased to announce that the EWSD has settled negotiations with its Teachers unit in a 4-year contract that includes a freeze in wages in the first year of the contract and averages a 1.1% wage increase over the 4-year term of the contract. All auxiliary salaries and stipends have been frozen for two years and employees will continue to contribute 20% to their health insurance.
The members of the Board of Education believe that an outstanding school system both insures the highest quality of education for our children and respects the ability of the constituency to support it. In any successful negotiation process the outcome has to be a mutually acceptable solution for both parties. The goal of the District was to significantly reduce costs and with this contract we have made a giant step forward in containing cost over the next four years. Our Teachers union realized the district’s challenges and responded to our challenges in order to preserve the educational integrity of our programs. We appreciate the union’s acceptance of a salary freeze in the 2011/2012 school year, as well as their willingness to accept periodic freezes in automatic incremental steps throughout the term of the contract.
You need no reminder that education in New York State is at a truly perilous crossroad. Financial support from Albany continues to dwindle while unfunded mandates continue to be put on the back of the residents of our district. Educators are being accused by the Governor of NY and the County Executive of Nassau County of being inefficient, ineffective, overpaid, over benefited and simply greedy. All the while our teachers stood up to the challenge, ignored the rhetoric and continued to work with our children, attended and participated in special events and kept the channels of communication open during the process. It is time that NY State and Nassau County stop pointing fingers, but rather begin working together to protect our children’s future.
Nothing is more important to this Board than protecting the education of the youngsters we are sworn to serve. We know that our teachers share in that goal and in the end that is our common bond.
Mark Kamberg President
Bob Freier Vice President
Robert Fallarino – Trustee
David Keefe – Trustee
Barbara Sloan - Trustee
***
Letter from Board of Education - January 3, 2011
Leading a district through these tough economic times is a huge task, especially with increased state mandates and decreased state aid. The state budget deficit is expected to continue to grow, federal stimulus funds will expire and pension costs will continue to climb. Furthermore, Nassau County is making yet another attempt to shift the mistakes of prior year’s county assessments onto the backs of school districts, despite losing the battle in the courts last year. This is all occurring while the downturn in the economy continues to be felt by the residents of our community.
The good news is the district is financially sound and your Board of Education continues to work together with Administration to do more with fewer resources.
The budget-to-budget increases in the past two years have been the lowest in the past six years of the District and two of the lowest in the past 20 year history.
The district received a clean audit report and realized a surplus. This surplus was generated in part by a spending freeze and because of the budget-to-budget building process. The surplus funds were used to reduce the tax levy as well as to increase necessary reserves. In consultation with the Board’s Financial Advisory Committee, the Unappropriated Fund Balance (or what some refer to as the Emergency Fund) has been increased and is now closer to the maximum 4% that New York State has set for school districts. Having this Unappropriated Fund Balance puts the District in a healthy position in the event that there is a further shortfall of State Aid. Through the reserve funding process, the Board has taken steps to protect the taxpayers from large budget spikes in subsequent years. This year the direction of the Board is to conduct the budget building process based on actual expenditures based on the prior year allocations.
It is important to point out that at the time of the budget vote in May, the estimated tax levy increase was 3.35%; however, when the Board of Education met in August, the final tax levy increase was reduced and set at a lower tax rate of 2.97%.
Financial concerns are a constant, but we must never forget the priority we all share, the education of our children. If you look at the District’s website, you will see that we had a record number of AP Scholars in the 2009-10 school year; over fifty of these student-scholars are now in this year’s senior class. This comes as a direct result of fulfilling our Board Goal of removing the artificial barriers for entry into honors and AP classes. The new Willets Road program has already met with rave reviews from parents and children. Students are now engaged in a new elective program, an exciting Family & Consumer Science program and state-mandated Academic Intervention Services. Lastly, our final class size numbers are in and slightly higher than last year. The actual average class size at North Side is 20.8, at Willets Road 21.2, and at Wheatley 19.8.
We will continue to take steps necessary to keep the EWSD one of the outstanding districts on Long Island. Through continued communication, cooperation and collaboration with our staff, legislators and the public, we will continue to strive to obtain more equitable tax structures, fair contract outcomes and ensure that our district gets its fair share of assistance from Albany and Washington.
Best wishes for the New Year.
The Board of Education of the East Williston School District
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Letter from the Board of Education - July 2010
The East Williston Board of Education is here to serve you and we want to hear from you. We are excited about the new school year and the challenges it will bring as we reflect on some of the highlights from the past year.
Academically, our instructional programs continue to challenge our students, including our continued support for the developing open enrollment in the accelerated Science & Math curricula. We expanded our AP offerings and engaged in a comprehensive review of our Middle School, which led to a new 9-period day of study. We are a community whose past and present distinguished achievements have been firmly rooted in a history of collaboration. It is through this continued shared process that the district is pleased to announce the hiring of a New Director of Special Education, a Director of Science and Technology, and a Curriculum Associate of Foreign Language.
Equally important is the safety of our children and the maintenance of our facilities. We recently implemented the Safe Schools hotline and linked our district to the Megan’s Law website. We have implemented a staff and student ID card program, with improved safer access to our buildings. We completed roofs on two of our three academic buildings and have begun work on the replacement of the roof on our maintenance building. Under way this summer is the restoration of the Wheatley track, Willets Road School parking lot, and the North Side School playground, parking lot, windows and areas of roofing. In addition the Board has approved an Energy Performance Contract allowing for the full replacement of the Wheatley boilers and district-wide lighting, all at contract guaranteed savings to the district. Those savings will cover all of the costs of the project. The district also signed an Inter-Municipal Agreement, partnering with the Town of North Hempstead, for recycling and other maintenance demands at significant cost savings.
We have engaged our community in meaningful ways to foster support of district programs and services. We already share our facilities after school hours with such groups as Don’t Move Away, Creative Arts, and Little League. We continue to keep our Tennis Courts and Track open through dusk all summer so that all residents can take advantage of our facilities. The community is always invited to our drama productions, concerts and other events. The Board of Education expanded its fact gathering and decision making ability by asking for input and guidance from its many experienced and willing volunteer community members. In this regard the Board was pleased to expand the services of the Financial Advisory, Audit and Capital Facility Advisory Committees. In addition the Board formed an Education Advisory Committee as well as a Community Relations Committee. The Board recently announced that it has re-opened the application process for its committees and welcomes everyone’s participation.
The year ahead will be a challenging one. The long-term implication of diminishing State and Federal revenue will continue to require us to think and work differently. In an effort to save costs and defeat fraud, the district completed a Student Re-registration process, ensuring that only district residents attend our schools. Additionally in an effort to look for ways to share services, your Board has met with neighboring school district Boards of Education and has expanded its activist roles by creating a Board Member Legislative Liaison as well as a BOCES Liaison. All current Union Contracts are set to expire this year. The Board is well aware of fiscal constraints and the concerns signaled by our recent budget vote. We will continue with our successful community workshops and in an effort to allow all concerns to be voiced, this year we will be focusing them on such issues as fair, affordable negotiations, prudent budgeting and improved community relations.
Even with fewer resources, the Board of Education, together with Administration, will continue to move the district toward excellence, equity, and innovation in everything we do. We hope that everyone will take part.
The East Williston School District Board Of Education
