At the outset of the last Herricks School Board meeting quite a few of the members of Herricks DECA (Distributive Educational Clubs of America) were on hand, along with advisor Edward Rothar, to receive trophies for the many awards they brought home as a result of the last DECA competition. DECA President Evan Markowitz explained that 34 members attended the conference and Herricks had 30 winners and 2 honorable mentions. He said, "This was one of our better years of winners."

The awards winners and their topics are as follows: Anna Maria Andriotis and Sepideh Sedgh, Hospitality and Tourism Management Team Decision Making; Richard Bader, Business Services Marketing; Paul Bozgo, Food Marketing Management Level; Tapan Butala and Pavan Bahl, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Management Team Decision Making; Robert Cabildo and John Tunney, Financial Services Management Team Decision Making; Neil Dutta, Business Service Marketing; Matthew Honovic, Full Service Restaurant Management; Robert Jaegar, Food Marketing Associate Level; Tejal Kothari and Jennifer Chiu, Travel and Tourism Management Team Decision Making; Daniel Levy, Management Decision Making Marketing; Stacy Light, Apparel and Accessories Management Level; Neil Maguire, Retail Merchandising Associate Level; Evan Markowitz, president of Herricks DECA, Marketing Management; Russell Monti, Business and Marketing Law; Abhi Pardeshi, Retail Merchandising Management Level; Nehal Parikh, Parampal Ghai, Financial Services Management Team Decision Making; Amit Rao, Mathew Manoj, Travel and Tourism Management Team Decision Making; Tejal Patel and Riddhi Patel, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Management Team Decision Making; Perry Rahbar, Full Service Restaurant Management; Rajiv Vakani and Rajiv Lodaya, Financial Services Management Team Decision Making; Theodore Wong, Management Decision Making Marketing.

After the students were presented with their trophies, the members of the Herricks School Board then presented DECA advisor Edward Rothar with a plaque for his years of dedication to the Herricks DECA club.

Herricks Superintendent Dr. Sidney Freund then outlined for the board the process administration will use to conduct a search for Herricks High School principal since Principal William Sigelakis will be retiring at the end of this school year.

Superintendent Freund also explained that the district would also be conducting a search for a high school dean of students due to the death of Lou Gastman and for a high school/middle school second language chairperson due to the retirement of Frank Bruno.

The high school principal search will have as its chairperson Dr. Ronald Barnes, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction; the Second language chairperson search will have as its chairman Joseph Leccese, middle school assistant principal and the search for the dean of students will have as its chairperson Joseph Bifolco.

The finalist for the high school principal will be presented to the board by June 3 and the finalists for the dean of students and second language chairperson will be presented to the board by July 1. The reasoning in having the principal selected by June is so that a smooth transition may be assured by having the new principal spend time with Principal Sigelakis.

Trustee Emilia Sutz commented that it was very difficult at the end of the election to only have one candidate, at the end of the selection process to interview for each of the positions. Vice-President Christine Turner agreed with her and so did President Paul Ehrbar. It was therefore decided that the board would have at least two finalist candidates from which to choose.

The staffing of each of the committees was outlined by a document handed out at the board meeting that is available, for anyone who is interested, at the administration office.

The executive Summary of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act which was to be discussed was tabled for a future agenda.

The calendar proposed was for 183 instructional days and four snow days and to start school prior to Labor Day on Sept. 1

Vice President Turner said that she felt that four snow days were not necessary and that four days off during Memorial Day was excessive.

Superintendent Dr. Sidney Freund said that Herricks was the first school who opened prior to Labor Day and 97 percent of the students were in attendance and the opening was very smooth.

After a very long discussion held by the board and then opened to the public and then brought back to the board table, the biggest objection appeared to be opening before Labor Day and the four days off for Memorial Day. At the end of the discussion the board voted to table the discussion and not to adopt the calendar until the next board meeting.

During the first portion of the meeting that starts at 6:15 p.m. board trustee Emilia Sutz questioned the expense used to repair the boiler at the Denton Avenue School.

Assistant Superintendent for Business, Arline Visconti, explained that the rationale behind the use of the money to replace the rods in the boiler was based on the fact that without the repair the school would not have heat. To replace the boiler would be too costly, so therefore, after consulting with President Paul Ehrbar, it was decided to go ahead with the repair of the boiler.

Mrs. Visconti said, "It would be more prudent to repair a boiler for $7,000 or $8,000 than to completely replace the boiler at a much larger expense."

Vice President Christine Turner wanted to know who it was that reported that the boiler was not that bad and as long as repairs were made would have a few more years of life. Apparently that report was issued by the insurance company, but Mrs. Visconti said she feels that independent consultants should be called upon to completely go over all the boilers and then the district would have a better idea of the condition of all the boilers. It was decided that the current report would be made available to the members of the board and Mrs. Visconti said that she would probably get back to the board with recommendations on boiler replacement in the district.

It was announced that on March 24 the Herricks Council of PTAs will sponsor the Scholarship Fund Dinner at the Milleridge Cottage at 7 p.m. The cost per person for the dinner is $30. The Herricks Scholarship Fund was established in 1960 for the graduating seniors of Herricks High. The fund would not be possible without the generosity of community residents, teachers, parents, staff and local business. Direct contribution and attendance at the dinner comprise the funds that are available to the seniors for scholarship.

Any senior interested in applying for a scholarship may pick up an application in the Guidance Office of the High School. The Herricks Council of PTAs along with the Class of 1999 appreciate the support. For reservations mail your tax-deductible contribution to: Herricks Council of PTAs, Herricks Scholarship Fund, Administration Building, 99 Shelter Rock Road, New Hyde Park, 11040, NY.