Josephine Macchia, who has served as trustee on the Farmingdale Board of Education since 1989, including two years as president, has announced her retirement from the board. The school board has appointed Tina Diamond, well known for PTA leadership, as her replacement.

Over the years, Macchia had come to be a well-known and reliable leader in the school community, through her consistent presence at school board and PTA meetings and activities. Her support of Farmingdale's students was also quite visible, whether by her enthusiastic support of Daler athletics, or attendance at school concerts, or by countless trips to Albany to lobby for state funding for education. In recognition of her accomplishments, Macchia's colleagues in the school community threw her a retirement dinner on Monday, June 26, at John Anthony's on the Water in Babylon. Before, during, and after the celebration, she was lauded by school officials, parents and others as an outstanding community and child advocate.

Speaking on behalf of the district, Barbara Horsley, assistant superintendent for Farmingdale Schools, said this week, "She was a wonderful supporter for all of our students in their academic and extra-curricular activities, and the district will miss her."

Macchia, a 29-year resident of Farmingdale and mother of Anthony, 24, and Victoria, 21, began her community involvement with the Woodward Parkway PTA in 1980.

Among her contributions to the school community over the years are the following:

-in addition to serving as president, served as vice president on the school board for 2 years.

-served as recording secretary for Farmingdale Council of PTAs.

-served as advisor and chaired various committees on SEPTA - was an integral team member in an effort that instituted scholarships and awards for children in Special Education.

-served as parent advocate on the Committee on Special Education.

-served as school board liaison to Farmingdale Council of PTAs, and to Farmingdale SEPTA.

-earned the following PTA awards: Honorary Life Award, Distinguished Service Award, Volunteer of the Year Award.

-earned the following school awards: Lifetime member of Tri-M Music Honor Society of Farmingdale High School (FHS) students, "#1 Lady Daler" - from Captains Council of FHS students.

-served on the District's Citizens Advisory Committee for Occupational and Vocational Education.

-served as officer in Nassau County Coordinating Council of SEPTA/BOCES.

-School board liaison to Farmingdale Youth Council.

-Acted as Grand Marshal of the Farmingdale Baseball Day Parade.

-Served on committee to celebrate PTA's 100-year Anniversary.

-Served on various lobbying committees - traveled to Albany with Farmingdale School District to advocate for state funding for education.

In an interview last week, Macchia noted that her decision to retire was not an easy one. It came as she realized she would no longer meet the residency requirement for board membership, when she was faced with the need to move out of the district to maintain personal financial viability. She now resides in her nearby hometown, North Babylon, and plans to continue to stay involved in Farmingdale school community activities. "The hard part of being a board member, I can let go. There are people now to do that, and I've accomplished what I've needed to accomplish," she said. "Now I can go to the fun stuff, and be, still, where the kids like for me to be."

Asked to reflect on the accomplishments of the school board during her tenure, Macchia cited the passage of the bond issue as the greatest. The $38.5 million measure, approved by local voters in October, 1999, will overhaul and expand facilities, as well as fund new academic programs needed to help students meet tougher state learning standards. "It's a recognition of people that they want our district to move forward. They want to be able to educate children in a full-day kindergarten program, and give them the same level playing field that other surrounding districts have," said Macchia, adding, "And that's going to help when these kids have to take these very strict standards of requirements for graduation. So it's a recognition of the community that came together, that said, 'We believe in that, and we believe that our buildings need to be fixed, and our fields need to be fixed. What it's saying is 'We're a community, and we have pride. And we want to take care of it.'"

Macchia's retirement is effective June 31. The school board appointed Diamond to fill the remaining year of Macchia's term during its June 20 public meeting, after she responded to a call for applications extended by the board to the community. Diamond will take an oath of office to become trustee during the school board's annual reorganization meeting on July 5.