In spite of the sweltering heat last week the board room of the Herricks School Board was packed as the board voted to hold next year's middle school graduation at the Tilles Center on the grounds of C. W. Post, Brookville. The reason for the decision at this time is that a deposit had to be sent to the facility to hold the date for next year.

The date voted on is June 18 and the cost for the facility is $6,350 which will be taken out of the general fund. The Abilities facility, the location for the 2001 graduation, cost the district $5,018.72 but it is not available to the district this year due to some unfortunate "incidents" that took place during last year's graduation.

However, it was never determined what exactly did take place, but Herricks Superintendent Dr. Jack Bierwirth said that he is trying very hard to determine exactly what "incidents" took place to prompt them to prohibit the Herricks district from holding its graduation there. Further, he is going to find out exactly who was responsible for any damage to the facility and will report that information back to the board.

In the open discussion portion of the meeting on this subject several community members questioned why the middle school is being sent to Tilles for graduation when the high school is still holding its graduation on the football field. Board president Emilia Sutz said that the board would also like to find an alternative location for the high school graduation, but due to a survey of the graduating class, the students themselves do not want to hold their graduation at any other location but at the high school. The discussion is ongoing.

A senior citizen in the audience complained that the $6,000 fee coming out of the general fund to pay for a middle school graduation was "outrageous" but due to the time constraints, the board voted favorably on the proposal.

Board President Sutz said that she wanted to commend Superintendent Bierwirth for hearing the board's plea to get the school calendar out as soon as possible. The calendars have already been mailed which is the earliest the district has the completed calendar. President Sutz then praised Lorraine Romano who works so hard "behind the scenes" and Dr. Bierwirth also praised her and said it was Mrs. Romano who did all the work.

Many members of a recent search committee were present at the board meeting to report they were very upset with the fact that the school board did not accept their hiring recommendations. One resident said that the committee spent many hours over the summertime going over applications and interviewing various candidates only to find that their recommendations had not been accepted.

President Sutz warned the group to be careful not to mention any names due to the sensitivity of the topic. She said, "I can only tell you that it is our belief that we are acting in the best interest of the district. Thank you for the time and we thank every individual who contributes their time and for your input."

Parents expressed disappointment with the camp operation this summer. One parent said that there were a few good instructors but some that should have not been appointed. She said that they were not professional when in the room with the students, nor did they treat the children with respect, plus they did not plan their day in spite of the fact they are professional teachers. Further, she said they charged exorbitant amounts of money every week for parties which is above and beyond what is paid in tuition. She also added that many of the parents do not plan to ever use the camp facility again.

Another parent said that some of the instructors were totally inappropriate with the children using foul language and instructing the children not to tell their parents whenever anything adverse was discussed.

Another resident said that perhaps a committee should be formed to completely revamp the camp. She said that there are many camps in the area that offer more and at less price. She said that with a price of close to $700 a child the entire program should be looked at.

President Sutz asked the parents to meet with Dr. Bierwirth, not at the board meeting, but in a private meeting to discuss the situation. She said she was "disheartened" to hear their comments and she said that the board is concerned.

Dr. Bierwirth said that no concern has ever been brought to his attention and that he is always available to listen to anyone who had such a complaint. He said, "If Dr. Barnes or anyone else is not available then someone should come to me. There is no reason to wait until Dr. Barnes returns from vacation. I have been in charge of the camp while he is away and have been there two or three times a week. If I don't know about a complaint then there is no way for me to investigate the problem. Further, I should be apprised of these problems, not at the end of the camp, but as the camp is in progress so that the children will end up with a good and positive camp experience."

In commenting on the fund balance Dr. Bierwirth said, "For 17 years in a row the state has not presented its budget in a timely fashion. At the end of the year we ended with somewhat more money than was anticipated and we are asking the board to put all of that except for a small amount in a fund to offset what could be a sharp decline in state aid."

Bierwirth continued, "If this is not done, property owners will receive a tax increase larger than what was advertised in the budget. I can't think of a year in which I have been in education that the situation has been cloudier. The problem with us in Nassau County, unlike other parts of the state, is that this is when we set our taxes."

The Appropriation of the Fund Balance is as follows:

Fund Balance: Revenue Adjustment: Plus $515, 107; Budgeted Amount: $1, 450,000; New Amount: $1, 965, 107. State Aid: Revenue Adjustment: ($460, 747); Budgeted Amount: $5, 773, 060; New Amount: $5, 312, 303.

Tax Levy: Appropriation of Fund Balance to Maintain Class I Tax Rate

Revenue Adjustment: $54,300; Budgeted Amount: $49, 325, 720; New Amount: $49, 271, 360.

Trustee Peter Grisafi said he felt by putting the $515, 107 into a fund to return to the taxpayers and not into an emergency repair fund, which is at a dangerously low level, is a concern.

Bierwirth answered, "You have every right to be concerned but the alternatives at this point are to gamble that the state will come through or to return it to the taxpayers and lower the tax rate which is equally as dangerous because if the state doesn't come through then you are stuck. It is not the fault of the board or the community but the fault of the state. Everything that you are saying is correct, but there is nothing you can do about it."

At that point President Sutz made the following comment, "I have been sitting either at this table or in the audience for a number of years and I feel I have a right to comment."

She continued, "I am appalled with the governor and with our representatives who have let this happen for 17 years. This would not

happen in any other state. We are the laughing stock of the state that the people that we have chosen to lead cannot come to an agreement as far as the budget is concerned. We certainly, at the school board level, have a budget in place by the date that we have been given and we have to supply numbers to our community. We are empowered and have the right and privilege to vote. I saw Governor Pataki in an interview over the weekend and he commented that all was quiet this year. Well, shame on us. Organizations such as PTA, Superintendent's Association, School Board Association should be lobbying hard and fast for our money. We cannot allow this situation to take place. We cannot allow our local representatives to go off on vacation because they have a baseline budget in place so that they get paid. They do not have to deal with budget until they return. Can you imagine if I called my mortgage carrier and told them I wasn't going to pay my mortgage for two months. We have got to hold our representatives accountable, just as you hold us accountable. So, yes, it is not our fault, but here we are making decisions when we don't have all the numbers."

Sutz concluded, "In the past I have been in favor of returning fund balances because it is money that is in excess. This year due to the situation that we have, I would like to see the money used to offset next year's expenses. I do not want to put in any reserves, I think next year we will be hard hit and we could use that extra money."

Trustee Stollwerk suggested that all residents should contact their representatives and the more letters they receive the more likely they will respond.

The board then set the tax levy at $49, 271, 360.

The board also will launch a search process to hire a Herricks Community Center Affairs Director. The board advertised for the position on Aug. 12. Then in September the superintendent and the board will meet with the following groups for input and criteria: Community Center Advisory Board; Community Center tenants and the PTA. Then on Sept. 20 the board will establish a criteria at that public meeting. The deadline for receiving applications will be on Oct. 15. The search committee will screen applications and interview and then the search committee meets with the superintendent to present the names of semifinalists. The next step will be for the superintendent and the assistant superintendent to interview the semifinalists and the board will interview the finalist and then the superintendent will recommend a finalist to the board and the board will appoint a new director.

The next regular school board meeting of the Herricks Board will be held on Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.