Herricks Superintendent Dr. Jack Bierwith addressed the concerns of a parent regarding graduation at the last school board meeting. Apparently a list has been released consisting of 81 seniors who are, at this point and time, identified as not eligible to graduate.

Dr. Bierwith explained that a list such as this is released every spring. He said that both the students and the parents have been notified and in many instances it is a case where the student has not completed the required state courses such as finishing all of their assignments in English, Economics or Government or in Physical Education, etc.

However, once the student and the parents have been warned the student usually makes up whatever classes or whatever credits they are missing or are deficient in and they do in fact graduate with all of the credits necessary.

Dr. Bierwith assured the parent that the number will drop drastically and when it comes time for graduation just a handful of students will not graduate. Of that handful those students usually attend summer courses and pass in time to go on to college.

However, Dr. Bierwith said that during the summer he will personally examine all of the records of seniors who do not graduate to find out why in fact they did not graduate just to make sure that the district is doing everything possible to successfully guide its students to graduation.

The parent said that he had also heard that graffiti had been reported at the school as a result of a student list identifying those not graduating. Dr. Bierwith said indeed there was some ugly graffiti on the school grounds, but to his knowledge it has no connection with students who have been identified as not graduating.

The parent again said that he was very surprised regarding the numbers reported and Dr. Bierwith said that it is the same every year, but that this year it appears that the facts have received more publicity.

He was also questioned about the overcrowding of a fourth grade class at the Denton Avenue School. He said that the district is aware of the problems and they will be solved probably by forming a new class within class guidelines resulting in the music class being performed on the stage as it was this year. Dr. Bierwith added, "It will be no worse that it was this year."

A parent in the audience thanked Dr. Bierwith for addressing the overcrowded class at Denton in such a timely manner.

The PTA president requested that each member of the PTA Board receive the school board agenda at his/her own home. School Board President Emilia Sutz said the board does not really have the clerical personnel to facilitate such a request, but it will be discussed as soon as the new board is in place.

The school board invited a member of the school board attorney's law firm, Carol Melnick, who is a specialist in Special Education who listed, in detail, the many guidelines necessary, and there are many, for the school district to comply with those guidelines in concert with the parents and the Special Education teachers and the district's Committee on Special Education positioned in each school in the district.

After Mrs. Melnick finished speaking Board President Sutz said that the Special Education direction at Herricks advocates open dialogue in order to keep the lines of communication open.

The construction managers were on hand at the meeting to bring the board and the public up-to-date on the projects authorized by the bond.

Dr. Bierwith explained that he had a meeting about 10 days ago with the managers and a time-line was reviewed prepared by the construction consultants and that time-line is what the district is using.

The three elementary schools Denton, Center and Searingtown Schools are now in the first stages which is review and approval by the state. Dr. Bierwith said, "There is some good news and some continued frustration. First, many more districts went out and received approval of bonds from their districts resulting in unreasonable delays."

Dr. Bierwith continued, "But thanks to the intervention of Assistant Superintendent for Business Stephen Golas with people that he knows at the state level we have been able to secure an understanding that moves this process along so that we can start the bidding process."

Dr. Bierwith explained that this was imperative because the district will absolutely need space at the beginning of the 2002 school year. He said, "We can't say to those students and their parents this year we will begin school at the beginning of October because we don't have space. So, we are doing everything we can to get us to that point."

Dr. Bierwith said that he may even ask the board to meet on an usual date in order to get bids in as soon as possible instead of waiting for the next board meeting.

He then explained that the boilers ideally would have been replaced this summer but he said, "However, we will not be able to do the boilers this summer but rather next summer."

The construction managers added that some of the plans have been in Albany since February and others since March so the waiting time is quite lengthy.

Dr. Bierwith said that in Albany they do know that there are certain districts that absolutely need space by a certain date and they are taking those districts out-of-order in order to facilitate the construction in time.

He went on to explain that the high school is basically on the same time line as the elementary schools.

Dr. Bierwith said, "Consequently, we will look at which school can do with half of the space when school opens and the rest a month later, and what is needed first and that is now being looked at. This information will be communicated to all of the parents in the district so that they may be kept apprised of the construction progress."

At the end of the discussion School Board President Sutz said, "I am going to once again state for the record that I am not pleased with the plan for the boilers not being addressed this year given the condition of the boilers. This project has been tabled on numerous occasions and I am certainly disappointed."

Dr. Bierwith answered, "I think that everybody who works for the school district hears your frustration. But we can't put them back into the mix now because it would risk throwing the time-line off too much. Since the windows and the boilers are tied in together they can't be separated out at this point without causing a huge problem."

Dr. Bierwith explained that the board had asked him to examine the board's complaint policy and he has. He said, "I have looked at the policy and it is pretty good, as policies go, and I would ask that you live with the policy as is until next December or January."

He continued, "I believe that the district needs certain policies. We have to have certain rules. The problem is that policy cannot address a variety of principles or guidelines. Including fairness when a complaint is registered; is it treated with sensitivity; is it treated with neutrality so there is no bias for or against whoever is complaining. I don't believe you can legislate any of this. When a complaint is lodged is that person discriminated against?"

Dr. Bierwith then said he would like more time to further review the policy and come back to the board in December. In the interim he said he wanted to spend time talking to administrators, staff, teachers, secretaries, parents and students. He said after all that he will come back to the board and then perhaps suggest changes in the policy.

Trustee David Stollwerk said, "I think that Dr. Bierwith has a wonderful grasp of the nature of the problem. I feel that in order to have a complaint policy that is viable everyone has to buy into it and have respect for it and that includes all of the district. So I was glad to hear that you will speak to all of those components. The policy has to have an integrity that is respected by all the members of the community. The only way I can think to disseminate complaints fairly is to have multiple copies so that everyone receives a copy of the complaint at the same time. Further, it is important not only to include negative comments in faculty files but positive letters must also be included as well."

The hearing on the SAVE report will be held at the next meeting on June 21 with board action to follow either that same night or at the reorganization meeting to be held on July 2nd at the Community Center.