New board members Annette Giarratani, Joseph Bongiorno and Ernest Gentile took their seats at the board table for the first time when the New Hyde Park- Garden City Park School District held its monthly board meeting recently at the Manor Oaks School.

However, only Giarratani, who was formally sworn into office the night of the election, could comment on any board actions. Bongiorno and Gentile were sworn in at a ceremony at later date.

Giarratani immediately spoke during the meeting, the first since her original election to the board in 1985, asking thoughtful questions about the Health Smart program. The health education program as described already exists in the fourth grade classrooms, but was proposed to be introduced next year in the second grade as well.

A presentation by New Hyde Park Road School teachers, Tracy Onorato and Susan Sohmer, described Health Smart as a 4-unit program, including Personal & Family Health, Nutrition & Physical Activity, Safety & Injury Prevention and Tobacco, Alcohol & Drug Prevention, that is specifically molded for the age and lifestyle of each grade. For example, second graders would learn about the dangers of tobacco, and pledge to stay drug free, whereas fourth graders practiced the best ways to comfortably say no to peer pressure.

Health Smart also provides opportunities for children/parent discussion, and role-playing to prepare for real-life choices and peer-pressure. The program, which requires parental consent, was approved by the board to be integrated into second grade classes for the coming year.

Dian Zirilli-Mares, director of Curriculum and Instruction, also made a presentation, in this case on behalf of the Professional Development Plan, introducing the 2007-2008 agenda. The Professional Development team, which includes parents, administrators, teachers, and others, made minor alterations, with goals that include meeting the needs of all teachers so that the needs of students can be met, and providing teachers with 25 hours of professional development each year.

The new outline also addressed the needs of new teachers, suggesting a mentoring experience for all first-year teachers on top of the 175 hours of professional development already recommended for every five years. Mentors, who will make an extra $1,250, are generally teachers in the same grade or subject as the beginner.

The committee also recommended a familiarization program for the teachers to better understand the new ELA texts and resources, as well as the content, scoring and format of the state assessments. Also mentioned by Zirilli-Mares was a plan to enable teachers to better utilize the technology in specialized areas, such as eSchool, the computer-operated management system used for tasks such as recording report card grades and taking attendance.

She explained that a specialist will come in during the first marking period of the school year to show teachers exactly how to execute these programs. The board passed the Professional Development Plan for 2007-2008.

Fire Marshal Bruce Bingham, industrial consultant to the district, also presented and declared that all violations found within school buildings were "minimal and mild in nature." Bingham explained that by the time he left each school, some of the problems had been fixed and he was able to sign his approval that there were no violations.

Also signed off for approval was the Report and Recommendations from Committee for Special Education and Committee for Preschool Special Education, Curriculum Writing, both of which were passed at the meeting.

Superintendent Regina Cohn, gave an end-of-the-year report that consisted of a simple picture and music montage that lasted for approximately 10 minutes.

Tenure appointments were given to teachers Susanne Hoffman, Patricia Maguire, Sharon Rebecchi, Regina Rice, Carolyn Weiss, Sheri Vas-Lopes and Denis Connolly.

Three employees resigned, two of whom, a substitute teacher and a substitute door monitor, were unnamed. The third, however, Karen Fran, left due to a family situation.

Instructional probationary positions were appointed to Yan Heart, ESL teacher, Mary Eilene Ignamy, music teacher, Natalie Hartwood, art teacher and Peter Candela, physical education teacher. An unnamed substitute teacher and summer cleaner were also appointed.

Board issues that were passed include the superintendent's contract, assistant superintendent for business contract, the memorandum of agreement-director of facilities and transportation, confidential employee memorandum of agreements, and non-contractual salary schedule, but no further information about any of them was provided.

The schedule of board meetings for the 2007-2008 school year was also passed. Though no exact schedule was provided, it was announced that meetings would continue to take place on Mondays.

The board also approved custodial holidays, the clerical stipulation of agreement, services contracts and the district summer ESL 4-week program, which includes summer special education program, payments to staff, old and obsolete equipment, and BOCES cooperative bid for nurses' supplies.

Also passed, with no problems, were the requests for use of facilities, summer transportation, budget transfers, Tax Anticipation Note and the budget increase due to the Summer Recreation Program. Again, no further information was provided about any of the items.

Old business was filled with goodbyes for both school board trustees Florence Raihl and Frank Miranda, who were both present for their last meeting as board members. Frank Miranda, whom other board members described as the "techie," said, "It's been enlightening. I learned a lot." Miranda also individually praised and thanked each member of the board.

Raihl, who was helpful for her knowledge of Special Education, agreed with Miranda. She said, "We've got a great administration, the teachers are wonderful. It's been a great experience." Both Raihl and Miranda were presented with plaques to thank them for their service to the board.

Giarratani reported on the Nassau/Suffolk Legislative School Board Administration meeting that she attended with board president Patricia Rudd. She said the meeting gave informative explanations about the importance of school districts and businesses working together in partnership, particularly when it comes to attaining aid and grants from the state.

In new business, Florence Raihl, along with board members David Del Sato and Joan Romagnoli, took time to praise and congratulate the children and teachers involved in a recent drama club production. Raihl said that the production, which included fourth, fifth and sixth graders, really showed off the advantages of participating in a drama club, noting that students of all personalities and talent levels performed with great ability.

The district as a whole was also recognized for having High Performing/Gap Closing schools. Individual schools Garden City Park School, Hillside Grade School, Manor Oak School, and New Hyde Park Road School also fell under this category, meaning that students, when broken down into subcategory (race, gender, etc.) performed equally as well on state tests.

Also applauded at the meeting were several students. Adrian Chang and Luke Viscusi were present to receive an award for competing on the third place team in the Nassau County Math Olympiad Tournament. Their three other team members, Gregory Hoerter, Steven Lin, and John Tripptree did not attend. Chang was also awarded a separate honor for earning third place in the individual competition.

Three students, sixth grader Betsey Abraham and fourth graders Katya Keblish and Earl Balgos, will have their work exhibited at the New York State Council of School Superintendents Conference, as NYSTATA Student Exhibition Winners.

Talented writers were recognized at the meeting as well, as four Manor Oaks School students, Michael Lopez, Jerin Thomas, Thomas Russo, and Traven Tong, earned first, second, third, and best art work, respectively, in the Cartridge World Essay Contest Winners.

Academics is not the only area in which the district's students excelled. Two third grade children, Catherine Lyons and Roby Daniel, were also honored for winning the Town of North Hempstead 2007 Keeping it Green Outreach Award.

Sharon Rebecchi, an art teacher, also contributed to the prestige of the district by entering the We the People Picturing America Grant-National Endowment for the Humanities and winning. Her recognition earned the district 20 large print photographs related to the history of America, to be hung throughout the schools.

At the end of the meeting, when it was opened to comments from the public, Ferheen Syed came to the microphone with a request for the district to change the name of the Christmas Concert, at all of the schools, to either a Holiday or Winter Concert. Board president Patricia Rudd said the board would take the suggestion under consideration.

The board adjourned to executive session but not before cookies and strawberries were provided by the PTA in celebration of the trustees going off the board.

The next school board meeting will be an organizational meeting and regular meeting to be held on July 9 at 8 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.