The Nov. 11 Levittown Board of Education meeting opened on a positive note with members of the board recognizing the Division Avenue High School Competitive Marching Band.

Under the direction of Field Majors Eric DiGiovanna and Lisa Acquaotta, the band performed two selections from their show The Rise and Fall of Rome for the district administration, board of education, and audience members at the board meeting. Afterwards, the Field Majors, Assistant Field Major Andrew DiDio, Guard Captains Chrissy Pecoraro and Deanna Sichel, and Director Jennifer Pierre-Louis received a plaque from Board President James Moran commemorating their great season. The band finished their season by scoring a season high 86.60 and placing seventh overall at the All-States Championships on Nov. 7 in Allentown, PA.

"It means a lot to all of us to receive this recognition," said DiGiovanna.

"Just wait until next year, " DiDio added.

Mr. McKay, a recently retired sergeant from the NYPD and presently the teacher of the new forensic science program at MacArthur High School, demonstrated to the board and audience, a foot casting, which is what detectives at a crime scene would perform if there was a footprint they needed to preserve for investigative purposes. The new forensic science course is turning out to be a big hit with the students; they are learning to do such things as hair analysis, fingerprinting and how to preserve a crime scene.

The public be heard section of the board meeting began with resident Karen Clapper approaching the board with a request to reduce the high school transportation bus mileage eligibility from 1.5 miles to .25 miles. Clapper came prepared with 225 signatures from members of the community in agreement with the proposal of this reduction of mileage, and voiced her concern about children having to walk along busy roads, in the dark with heavy backpacks.

She concluded by asking the board, "how far exactly do you walk from where you park your car to your office on a daily basis carrying your very heavy briefcases?"

Superintendent Dr. Herman Sirois reported afterwards that the board will be reviewing that concern and coming up with figures by March or April of 2005. There would be approximately three times more students using the school buses if the mileage eligibility is lowered to .25 miles.

Resident Daniella Farro approached the board regarding her concern about fifth-graders being taught sex education in the elementary schools, bringing sex education within the walls of the school.

"Smaller children will hear fifth-graders discussing it in the bathroom, in cafeteria, while waiting for the bus and on the bus," Farro said.

She suggested devoting the last two weeks of school to a sex education orientation for the fifth-graders in the middle school building, away from younger children. Dr. Sirois responded that the board is reviewing the system regarding sex education.

The board agreed upon the establishment of a board subcommittee on self-audit of internal controls. The board acknowledges that the Levittown School district has a history of having quality and efficient audits, but also recognizes the need to assure district residents about school district finances. The new sub-committee will consist of all Levittown Board of Education members being joined by Dr. Sirois, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Jeffrey Carlson and the Assistant Superintendent for Administration Victor Longaro.

The board also passed a new action requiring all Levittown Board of Education members to undergo in-service training such as school district finances, which must be completed within the first year of service so that all expenditures of funds are done with accuracy.