Nassau County police officers opened the Nov. 9 Farmingdale Board of Education meeting. The board brought POP Officers Tom Murphy and Paul LaMonaca to the meeting to discuss the recent shooting at Farmingdale High School.

When asked if anyone has been caught, Officer LaMonaca said, "No, but they will be." LaMonaca informed the meeting that it is an ongoing investigation that they are actively following up on and will be giving the highest penalty possible when the suspects are caught.

According to police, at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 28, just after a pep rally at Farmingdale High School, a security guard on his routine patrol observed a verbal altercation between some students and a group of unidentified male subjects. Police state that as the guard drove toward the group of male subjects, they entered three vehicles and drove off the school property. The guard then followed in his vehicle in an attempt to obtain license plate numbers. The three vehicles stopped at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Intervale Avenue where all the subjects in the three vehicles exited and ran toward the security guard's car, according to police. The security guard reported hearing what he believed sounded like gunshots and drove back to the school where he called the police. Upon closer inspection police state that one bullet did strike the radiator of the security car.

Following the police presentation Board President Charlie Russo and Farmingdale High School Principal Alan Bauer presented the Farmingdale security team with a Certificate of Recognition for their work the night of the shootings, keeping the students all calm.

The meeting then proceeded as usual with public participation and a Facilities Advisory Committee update. The board then discussed a possible volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker school tax exemption. If passed, the exemption would ask the community to pay an extra $4 in taxes. The board discussed the matter and all agreed that the volunteer firefighters are a major asset to the department but the timing is off for this exemption. They voted down the exemption 4-3 with hopes of looking at it again in the future.

Also at the meeting an announcement was made that the board had approved tenure for Howitt Middle School Principal Luis Pena. The announcement was met by both approval and disapproval from the public. In the second participation some voiced their opinions on the topic of the principle and events in the school.

Soon after the public participation the board excused themselves to executive session and the meeting was adjourned.

(Editor's Note: The following is a press release from the Farmingdale School District.)

Farmingdale School District Holds Curriculum Workshop on Program Evaluations

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Farmingdale School District held a curriculum workshop on program evaluations in science and music at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Schultz reviewed the program evaluation PowerPoint presentation with the board of education, explaining that the purpose of the evaluation program is to improve student learning, build on the program's strengths, better understand and improve professional practices, to determine the quality of a given school program, to determine the effectiveness of a program for its participants, to set program priorities and to determine if the program is meeting its goals and desired outcomes. The process and district evaluation committees were approved by the board of education in January 2005 for science and music.

The K-5 Elementary Science Evaluation Committee, chaired by Science Director Erich Glanz, presented its report to the board of education and audience. The goals and objectives of the Elementary Science Program were stated as providing students with the ability to read with comprehension; think critically and reason competently; communicate effectively through writing, speaking, viewing and listening; acquire a knowledge of humanities, mathematics and the sciences sufficient to appreciate the complexities of life in this modern age; acquire the knowledge and understanding of effective citizenship that will require a commitment to contributing and participating in our governmental process; and acquire the knowledge of our environment and the relationship of one's life to the quality of the environment. Desired outcomes of the Elementary Science Program include educating students who are able to experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world; use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions; engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.

After reviewing program evaluation questionnaires completed by elementary teachers, the K-5 Elementary Science Evaluation Committee was able to determine the strengths of the Elementary Science Program as high student performance on state assessments, clear grade-level expectations closely aligned with those of New York State, the use of Elementary Science Program (ESP) kits to deliver instruction, and dedicated science lab rooms available for science instruction in each elementary school building.

Concerns relative to the elementary science program were also identified. They involve textbooks, the need for more than ESP kits, loss of opportunity for enrichment and coordination of the delivery of instruction. The committee was able to make recommendations for the Elementary Science Program which include convening a textbook committee; requiring each elementary school to report elementary science assessment scores to parents; creating elementary staff development opportunities; devoting at least one building faculty meeting in each elementary building to ensure that science instruction is articulated between grade levels; convening science curriculum meetings with elementary school representatives to discuss curriculum articulation between buildings; requiring teachers to collaboratively develop a district-wide grade level vocabulary list, outline of laboratory procedures based on scientific method and list of appropriate safety precautions; and considering the reinstatement of the science specialist in each elementary school.

The Music Department Program Evaluation Committee, chaired by Art and Music Director Rita Padden, identified music department goals and objectives as being able to provide all children with opportunities to acquire a rudimentary understanding of the elements of music; begin learning to read music; learn to express themselves through music; discover their musical talents; utilize their imagination; analyze, evaluate and respond to music; create and perform music and develop a life-long love of music.

Strengths of the Farmingdale Music Program are grade-level expectations that are aligned with New York State Learning Standards, extensive and varied musical opportunities for students, a variety of teaching methods and styles that help to achieve district goals, a wide variety of assessments that holds students accountable for their learning, a good balance between performance ensembles and general music/music theory classes. Concerns and recommendations include the need to review and update curriculum, the need to regularly replace aging computers, the need to regularly replace and repair aging instruments and the need for more opportunities for teachers in different buildings to communicate.

The meeting was concluded after the committees addressed all questions from the board of education and audience following the two presentations. The next board meeting has been scheduled for Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.