The Glen Cove Board of Education met on June 12 and the first order of business was the legally required public hearing on the 2000-2001 school budget. The proposed budget was defeated at the polls last month and is being offered unchanged to voters on June 20. By law, the failed $47,789,674 budget meant the board of education could avail themselves of one of the following three options: offer the budget a second time with changes; offer it unchanged; or to immediately place the district under austerity. On austerity, law mandates that two things be removed from the budget--equipment and capital projects. On top of that, the district must fall within the overall budget cap with exclusions. The cap is 2.64 percent of the current year's budget as adjusted for tax certioraris. According to the assistant to the superintendent for business, Frank Fiumano, "Once the adjustment is made, the total allowable budget before excludable items becomes $44,142,005. By law, we can add to that number costs due to increased enrollment, ($400,000), as well as $1,750,000 for tax certs and $902,348 for debt service. An austerity budget would be $595,321 lower than the budget defeated at the polls."

The proposed $47,789,674 spending plan reflects a 7.8 percent increase in spending over the current year's budget and an estimated tax increase of 6.2 percent based on the city's assessment figure of $71,000,843. The assessment roll was reconfirmed by the city on May 23. Voters will be going back to the polls on June 20, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Should the budget be defeated again, the district will be automatically placed under austerity.

As the board discussed possible dates for a retreat in July--a forum for board members and the superintendent to set goals, network, learn to work together and become familiar with procedures under the tutelage of a professional consultant---what transpired shocked several board members and members of the audience. Board member Bob Lupinskie said he would like all board members to attend the retreat making it worth everyone's time and trouble. Dr. Garfinkel noted that since the school district has a new superintendent the board could use the retreat as a way of introduction and pave the way for setting goals and defining the mission of the school district's administrators. "It would give Dr. Freeley the opportunity to hear what you all have to say, including newly elected board member Dr. Rodger Silletti," said Dr. Garfinkel. Board member Bill Boeddener said he has felt under pressure since he was elected to the board to attend these retreats and, "I spend my time beyond board meetings doing things to improve the situation in this school district and all the 57 small city school districts." Mr. Boeddener continued and said the retreats remind him of Hitler's gathering together of youths for a Nazi "rah, rah" session and "this legislative body should not go around goose-stepping." Mr. Boeddener's remark offended several board members and set off ten minutes of chaotic shouting which culminated by board member Jeff Spector saying, "As a Jew I resent the comparison of this board to Hitler. You have no clue, Mr. Boeddener, and you are off the wall." Board member Carol Sucharski told Mr. Boeddener that he was elected to a board seat, not the Bill Boeddener seat and as such he should work together with the board. Outgoing board member Lorri Prince asked if Mr. Boeddener could be part of the planning process. Board member Bob Lupinskie said Mr. Boeddener used an unfortunate metaphor while board member Phil Enright said he didn't want to discuss the retreat after what had just transpired.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Joan Gordon to the position of English Language Arts, (ELA), coordinator. Ms. Gordon comes to Glen Cove having served as the assistant principal, ELA, at Canarsie High School from 1997 until now. She was a staff development specialist from 1985 until 1997 in the Brooklyn High School superintendent's office where she trained staff and administrators of 28 Brooklyn high schools in new performance standards, alternative teaching strategies and assessment, the Regents exams, literacy and interdisciplinary instruction. Ms. Gordon was a teacher of English at Wingate High School in Brooklyn from 1978 until 1985 and an adjunct instructor of literacy skills and ESL at NYC Community College from 1980 until 1985.

Possible Agenda Items for June 19 BOE Meeting

Donation to Gribbin School; CSE minutes; Special Education policies; High School class ranking policy; Revised district plan; Surplus equipment; Preliminary Board of Education calendar; Board retreat; Formation of Community Relations Committee; Financial reports. The meeting will be held in the high school.