The Glen Cove Board of Education met on August 6 in the high school cafeteria. Only a dozen people attended the meeting which had, as agenda items, the lease agreement for Coles School; the appraisal of Coles School; launching non-invasive drug testing as a requisite for driver education and a discussion centered on the elimination of Planned Parenthood as participants during the middle school's BIONIC program. Prior to addressing regular business, Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley reported that the district may very well lose $1.5 million in total state aid as reflected in the "bare bones" $79.6 billion budget the state Legislature put forth last week. Governor George Pataki has questioned that budget's legitimacy. It is the superintendent's hope that Governor Pataki and the state legislators will come to an agreement so that the Glen Cove School District will not suffer. Dr. Freeley reported that the district has filled 29 staff positions; of those 29, six have been awarded to minority applicants.

Also prior to convening, all board members privately considered a letter from former Glen Cove Mayor Vincent Suozzi regarding Coles School and his objections to the tactics being used by the current board regarding its disposition.

Despite vehement community opposition, Coles School was closed in 1991---the first step in the implementation of the paired plan by the district under the direction of former Superintendent of School Charles Murphy. The paired plan then "joined" Deasy to Landing School and Gribbin to Connolly School with Deasy and Gribbin housing kindergarten through second grade with Landing and Connolly designated for third and fourth grade. The Coles children were distributed throughout the district; a handful of Gribbin children were sent to Landing. The school board at that time cited the necessity to better ethnically balance the schools, the need to save money and the inadequacies of the Coles building as reasons for the closure and paired plan. Coles School was declared as being surplus in 1992, clearing the way for its potential sale. A proposal to build a Grand Union supermarket on the school's property was soundly rejected by the community during a raucous public hearing several years ago. At the same public hearing it was learned from residents and from Mr. Suozzi that the deed of the Coles School property contained a restriction at the request of the Coles family that the site be used only for a school in perpetuity. Following the defeat of the supermarket concept, a developer proposed the construction of multi-family housing. That idea was also rejected. Former Superintendent of Schools Frank DeLuca was at the helm when the board considered and approved the lease of Coles to Solomon Schecter High School. The board seated at the time welcomed the funds from the leasing of Coles into the district's budget process.

The lease, which was to have expired next year, has been extended to June 30, 2008. Solomon Schecter, which is reportedly having a difficult time obtaining a permit to build a new school on property they own in Old Westbury, asked for the extension because they want to proceed with additional renovations. In response to a question by this reporter, it was confirmed that Solomon Schecter is interested in buying the Coles School which has in turn moved the board to approve spending $5,000 to have the property appraised---property which was appraised at $2 million in 1992. Board president Vito Abbondandolo said the board had not thought about how it would be determined the school district did not need Coles for its own students. The sale of Coles School would require a public hearing and a public referendum.

The board voted in favor of the implementation of drug testing as part of the requirements for driver education at the high school. Its implementation is contingent upon finding an external funding source for the program estimated to cost $11,000 for 65 students. Board members Phil Enright and Janet Bates-Wilkins abstained on the issue. Mr. Enright, who is employed by a firm providing non-invasive drug testing, has promoted this concept to be attached to driver education for some time now. Mr. Enright said this would be a positive addition to the high school curriculum that would help parents and students to stay away from drugs. A letter from Dr. Sharon Harris of the Glen Cove Citizens Committee Against Substance Abuse, (GCCCASA), was read into the minutes. Dr. Harris is also the psychologist for the City of Glen Cove Court. She is in full support of the school district proposal for a drug-free driver education program. If a student tests positive during the driver ed. course, the student will immediately be dropped from the course and guided to a substance abuse program. The testing is done in confidence, no names are used and no reports are filed.

Mrs. Bates-Wilkins asked for more documentation from other schools on their experience in using this form of drug testing---the only testimony the board has heard has been from Mr. Enright. Mrs. Bates-Wilkins said she needed more of a feel regarding problems, mix-ups and possible questions regarding a student's rights.

Board member Dr. Rodger Silletti had asked for this item to be placed on the agenda for discussion purposes. Dr. Silletti said he had been approached by a large number of people who, because of their religious and/or moral beliefs, are offended by the presence of Planned Parenthood during the middle school's several BIONIC, (Believe It Or Not I Care), programs. Planned Parenthood provides, free of charge, self-esteem building talks to the middle school students in addition to the benefits of making positive choices when faced with peer pressure, drug and alcohol use and other risky behaviors. Dr. Silletti said the board's obligation is to provide a common experience for all children and asked for a good reason to justify keeping Planned Parenthood within the BIONIC program. He also asked if there were other agencies that could provide the same self-esteem oriented programs as Planned Parenthood. Dr. Silletti was informed that there are, indeed, other local agencies that can provide such programs. Dr. Silletti said he couldn't see a good enough reason, then, to continue having Planned Parenthood as part of the BIONIC program. Board member Janet Bates-Wilkins said she was familiar with the BIONIC program, (with which other board members were obviously not), and that the Melillo Center and DayTop rehabilitation center come to middle school and provide free seminars for children and parents. Mrs. Bates-Wilkins said she doesn't like the feeling of banning an entity such as Planned Parenthood. "I don't think we should be looking to ban a licensed social service agency because it advances the political agenda of some of our community constituents," said Mrs. Bates-Wilkins. Board member Carol Sucharski said she thought the person who is insulted has sent all his children to parochial schools so they wouldn't be tainted. At one point during a lively discourse, Dr. Silletti asked for a second to his motion to vote on the removal of Planned Parenthood which brought Charles Lavine, an attorney who was in the audience, to his feet to call on a point of order. Mr. Lavine said the issue of Planned Parenthood was only for discussion and, considering the lack of public notice and participation, there shouldn't be any vote. He added that when agenda items are posted it would be prudent for the board to be careful of hidden motives. The item was not put to a vote.

The school board adopted a transportation policy which states, in part, "the school district will provide after school transportation for eligible students to child care centers within the boundaries of the district; said child care centers must be licensed pursuant to Social Services Law. In order for a student to be eligible for transportation to an after school child care center the student must be eligible to receive transportation to and from school pursuant to district policy and regulation based on the student's residence. If a student is not eligible for transportation to and from school to his/her home the student will not be eligible for transportation from school to an after school child care center." An additional stipulation is that the transportation is at no additional cost to the district. The school board voted to table the request for such transportation made on behalf of Tutor Time. The school board's attorney was under the impression Tutor Time was not a Social Services licensed childcare center. During the school board meeting, Tutor Time proprietor Dr. Jon Thurman said his establishment is indeed licensed under a specific chapter of the Social Services Law. The board will vote on this issue during their next meeting in September. The board has considered and granted several such requests this past year and had at one time considered limiting the transportation to not-for-profit child care centers. That idea was abandoned and currently transportation is provided to La Fuerza Unida's and the YMCA's program.

Before Marvin Isaacson spoke during public comments he advised the board to buy a copy of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. Mr. Isaacson asked the board, "How many signatures on a petition would the board like to see regarding the banning of Planned Parenthood. You didn't even invite the public to discuss this issue; you just tried to railroad it through. I see religious intonations breaking through---who's backing this? The board was elected to represent all of us so who's representing me? I feel disenfranchised." The board then considered the next speaker. Referring to the dilemma faced by Tutor Time, Glenn Howard, a member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said the chamber would probably not support the discrimination by the school district of any business located in the city based on the business being for-profit or not-for-profit. "Any discrimination against a business or organization in Glen Cove is discrimination against the Chamber," said Mr. Howard.

Dan Cox said banning Planned Parenthood was a serious matter. He said the agency could operate within the school district's boundaries and banning it would pave the way for litigation. Mr. Cox added that hearing the word, "religion," brought to his mind the First Amendment to the Constitution. Planned Parenthood has a long, excellent record in the district.