Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley began the Monday, March 8 meeting of the Glen Cove Board of Education by recognizing three middle school students and their teachers who recently participated in the Nassau Community College Science Fair. The superintendent announced that third place went to Mari Mi-Young Haraldsson, a student of Mrs. Palmer, for her project on potholes; second place went to Ian Goldin, also Mrs. Palmer's student, for his project on sorting sediments; and first place was awarded to Trevor Sobeck, a student of Mr. Kocienda, for his project on fab fabrics. The superintendent will invite the students to a regular school board meeting for a proper acknowledgment of their accomplishments at a later date.

Dr. Freeley announced that she has conferred with Police Chief Timothy Edwards on protocol to be followed in the event a weapon is brought into one of the schools. "The principal will immediately call my office and we will begin the process as defined in the Code of Conduct. The principal will also notify the police and the police will respond as they see fit, based on circumstances and on the implement we have categorized as a weapon," she said.

Larry Blake, assistant superintendent for business submitted to the board the second in a series of budget presentations of what he again reminded the board is a proposed, very preliminary, working document. This session addressed instructional costs. As instructional items comprise more than 60 percent of the budget, Mr. Blake will present it in two parts. He noted that all programs listed are just proposals; as yet no decisions have been made on any budgetary items.

The budget in its first draft maintains average class sizes of 21.5 students in grades K-4, and allows for computer upgrades in all elementary schools. Funds are included for moving the middle school to a nine-period day. In the high school, two administrative assistants will be added to the staff, taking on duties of present staff members. The current coordinator of foreign language and ESL will be separated into two chairperson positions, both with teaching responsibilities. Other additions include a chairperson of music and art and two coaching positions in the athletic program, pending enrollments. Funding will be included for a science research teacher to develop a science research program to put Glen Cove High School in a competitive position to enter contests such as the Intel science program.

In the area of curriculum development and supervision, the salary increases of district coordinators would total $472,305 due to the following changes. The estimated contractual increases of current staff would be $72,419; moving two coordinators from 10.5 to 11 month positions, $9,886; addition of a music and art chairperson: $100,000; addition of an ESL chairperson: $90,000; two new administrative assistants: $200,000. All other areas including testing materials, curriculum and staff development, supplies and miscellaneous materials would add $64,879, bringing the total budget increase for curriculum development and supervision to $537,184.

In the section of supervision of regular schools, including salaries of principals, assistant principals and clericals as well as supplies, the increase would be $52,394; supervision of special school (summer school at an elementary level) would mean an additional $400. Teaching in mainstream programs, including all salaries, supplies and equipment, etc. would increase by $658,365 and programs for children with special needs, including salaries, supplies and equipment would be up $627,781.

The overall budget dollar change from 2003-04 for the above functions presents an increase of $1,876,122, an overall 6.94 percent change.

The proposed hiring of the two aforementioned administrative assistants at the high school will open up a number of other positions and release teaching staff from extra duties, allowing them to teach full-time. Duties handled by the new assistants would allow for eliminating the position of director of security at a savings of $59,000; the loss of one teaching position due to removal of detention responsibilities and lack of enrollment in occupational education: $51,667 saved; student managers will return to full-time teaching, their disciplinary duties being taken over by the new assistants: $62,000 and the removal of the music consultant: $40,000. Total offsets would be $268,667.

Before concluding, Mr. Blake noted that the 2002-03 expenditure per pupil in the Glen Cove schools was $15,265 compared with the Nassau County average of $16,126.

Future budget meetings and topics to be covered are as follows: March 15, instruction, part 2; March 29, transportation, community services, benefits, debt service, interfund transfers and revenue; April 19, final budget review and board of education adoption of budget; May 10, budget hearing (required to be between 7-14 days before vote); May 18, budget vote and school board election.

Karen Ferguson, president of the GCTA addressed the board to say, "I have heard through our well put together grapevine that directives have been given concerning cuts in special education. It was not discussed in tonight's presentation, but teachers have heard it. I would caution the board not to do any downsizing in special ed before the annual reviews are in. I would hope we're not looking to lose teachers prematurely." Board President Janet Bates-Wilkins stated that the board would be holding further budget talks later in the evening when this question would be further discussed.

Zefy Christopoulos revisited a meeting at Landing School where she said she had "asked...no, implored the board not to make cuts in special education. I was told the district would be 'streamlining' the department. I have been in business long enough to know that that means cuts." Acknowledging that the budget is in a preliminary state, Ms. Christopoulos reminded the board that she is a veteran of many budget meetings and said that "special ed shouldn't even be toyed with. Many of us have proof positive that the program is working well. Add to that the curtailments coming down [from the state] to students under the special ed umbrella, the fact that certain IEPs will not be honored, changes involving time extensions, scribes and readers...the last place to look to cut should be special education. We should, if anything, bolster our special ed program."

The board went on to personnel items, much of which cannot be talked about outside of executive session. However, when mention was made by Ms. Bates-Wilkins of some high school teacher resignations, board member Carol Sucharski queried, "Do we have the reasons for those resignations?" and was told it would be discussed in executive session. Three resolutions were voted on and read aloud. The board voted unanimously in favor of the first, acceptance of resignation for purpose of retirement of Joseph Polizzi, presently an assistant principal at the middle school. The next two, however, brought dissention, both being opposed by Ms. Sucharski and board member and former board president Vito Abbondandolo. Both items were recorded as "acceptance of resignation for purpose of retirement" for teachers Charlotte Lowy and Irene Harris. Board member Richard Tortorici questioned Ms. Sucharski, asking, "You're voting against accepting the resolution?" to which Ms. Sucharski replied, "I don't want any part of it."

The board went on to its budget work session, with the audience still intact. The first item brought up was that of special education. Mr Abbondandolo pointed out that the proposed budget shows an increase of almost 10 percent in special education, "indicating there are no cuts." Dr. Freeley repeated, "We are not making cuts in special education" and Mr. Abbondandolo explained that his remark was made to the audience "because the public should know that." The discussion then segued from money to the question "Where did these rumors come from?" asked by Mr. Tortorici. Dr. Freeley replied, "We asked [director of special education] Mary Murphy to look at the student/teacher ratio and give us information, as we ask of all the principals. That's probably where it came from." The discussion continued to address special education, with questions as to whether the model the district uses is the best one for its purposes. Board members made various suggestions which administration agreed to look into. They discussed co-teaching and the possibility of replacing some teachers with teaching assistants. Assistant Superintendent Diane Scricca remarked that the district needs to look at achievement results. "Figures don't support the [expensive] model we are using. We need to look at what is working and what is not. Are we getting the best results?" Ms. Bates-Wilkins pointed out that Glen Cove's graduation rate of special ed students with regular diplomas is lower than that of similar schools and "to consider taking out a professional teacher and putting in a paraprofessional will not make us more successful."

From the middle of the audience, Karen Ferguson called out in an exasperated voice, "I can't listen to this anymore! You are putting out a lot of information that is not being explained correctly." Ms. Ferguson was reminded by President Bates-Wilkins that this was a board work session, and suggested Ms. Ferguson "put your thoughts together and present them at a regular board meeting." Ms. Ferguson agreed, but as the discussion continued, she spoke up again. "I think it is pathetic that you are having this discussion without Mary Murphy being here. Things are not being explained correctly. You don't understand the process of special education. You are insinuating that co-teaching goes on all day. It does not go on that way at all." She then agreed once again to put her thoughts together and present them to the board at the next regular board meeting. "Three weeks from now," she promised.

Back to the subject of money, Mr. Abbondandolo commented that he was anxious to present the budget to the public before too many changes were added or subtracted and board member Doug Brown said he would like to get the public's input. Ms. Sucharski pointed out that the public should understand that while the budget is still in a first draft state, "When we say there's an eight percent budget to budget increase, that translates to a 10 or 12 percent tax increase."

Ms. Sucharski next brought up the question of safety in the schools, especially the middle school, "in light of what has gone on over the past month. Children tell me they're scared to go to school. The results of the PRIDE survey show they're scared. And I'm scared for them." Ms. Sucharski said the board needs to look to do something "now, immediately, restaffing, retraining...something." One thing she said she would like to see is teachers standing in the doorways of their classrooms when classes are changing. "A lot goes on in the hallways between classes," she said.

Mr. Brown questioned whether guidance counselors team up with administrators and teachers to discuss which students might need intervention or other assistance and was assured by Dr. Freeley that staff members meet all the time, and the schools are bringing in consultants to work with parents, staff and students. "They are talking, formally talking all the time. They know what the needs are." Mr. Brown continued by stating that he is concerned that the middle school has relatively new administrators, not used to the situation or jobs they are presently in. "I'm worried about organized structure in the middle school. I don't hear many expressions of confidence from parents. I share Carol's concerns and am uneasy about what is going on and what we are doing in terms of dialogue."

When it was pointed out that an additional security guard has been budgeted for the middle school in next year's budget, Ms. Sucharski reminded board and administration that "We still have four months of school this year and spring is coming which means the students will be outside more often. I have concerns for right now."

Mr. Abbondandolo agreed with Ms. Sucharski and Mr. Brown. "It's not a matter of money. We need to do more at the middle school. If we need more funds to do it, we need more funds. We have 900 students in the middle school and three security guards. That's one guard for every 300 students. I'm a big proponent of cameras in schools. There's lots of stuff going on between class changes. We can't just sit back and see what happens. Get additional staff and equipment," he said.

Dr. Freeley remarked that the district has looked into cameras and will do so again, but advised that in addition to the cost, putting such equipment into effect takes times. Mr. Abbondandolo said, "We have to start doing something sometime. You're asking for an increase to $537,184 in curriculum development and supervision. If students aren't safe and secure at school, I don't think it matters how much money we give to curriculum.

Board member Kurt Schmeller stated that before the board do anything, "We should have a full report so we can do an analysis of exactly what is going on: how systemic is it? are these events unusual? I'd like to have the issue defined. I'd like to hear from the staff how they feel." His remark was greeted with applause from members of the audience. Mr. Tortorici echoed Mr. Schmeller's remarks, saying "I'd like an assessment of the security and safety situation, 'chapter and verse.' "

The board decided to work on the issue and come up with a conclusion within two weeks, ready to present something to the public at the March 29 school board meeting.

Ms. Sucharski also questioned whether the middle school bands will be attending the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), as she had heard they were not. Dr. Freeley said she had just heard that rumor that day, and would find out about it. She also said she had heard last week that the band was not going to perform at Dorney Park and looked into that and was glad to say the bands are going.

When reached for comment after the meeting, Dr. Freeley said, "I can assure you, the bands will be going to NYSSMA." Glen Cove bands often excel at musical competitions, bring home trophies, awards and a great amount of self-esteem.