At the June 29 Island Trees Board of Education Meeting, Island Trees Interim Principal Dr. George Goldstein and Board Member Bernadette Bento were honored for their service to the Island Trees School District during the 2004-05 school year. Superintendent James Parla and the entire Board of Education commended Dr. Goldstein for his outstanding work at the high school and Bento for her made significant contributions to the board. Board President Robert Condela said that her service deserves commendation.

The board continued with their honors by recognizing three retirees: Joanne Fitzsimmons, Island Trees Middle School teacher; Joan Moberg, cook at Sparke Elementary School; and Jeanne Melin, school lunch monitor at Sparke Elementary School.

Students from the Sparke School, Stokes School and Island Trees Middle School were then awarded certificates and medals for placing first in an American Flag Etiquette program. This program is sponsored by American Legion Post 1711. The American Legion members visited each school in the district to discuss with students the meaning of the American flag and how to respect it. A video entitled For Which it Stands was shown to students in grades K-6. Teachers then discussed this with students in their classroom. Nine members of the American Legion were present at the board meeting to honor the students. Program winners included Stokes School: Brian Eletti - Grade 3, Gurpreet Ahluwalia - Grade 4, Sparke School: Katherine Black - Grade 3, David Mannlein - Grade 4, Island Trees Middle School: Daniel Garcia - Grade 5, Kelly Marlow - Grade 5, Tim Hicks - Grade 6 and Cory Ann Scher - Grade 6.

Twenty-two teachers and one administrator were granted tenure at the meeting. Each of the honorees in attendance was introduced and members of the school administration spoke about each of them. The teachers and administrator receiving tenure are as follows: Sparke School: Jennifer Harrington, Jennifer Meenan and Louis Tuorto. Stokes School: Melanie Aguado and Linda Reens. Island Trees Middle School: Kimberly Boddy, Tamara Cofield, James Conklin, Dana Francis, Holly Harouche, Peter McNally, Allison Pepper, Kathryn Scott, Amanda Triolo, Michael Perlotto, Nicole Wittschiebe and Amanda Wurzel. Island Trees High School: Matthew Dunleavy, Evelyn Goldband, Kelly Mathis, Marie Timmons and Kimberly Villatoro. Administration: Jean Ryan.

The Island Trees Board of Education has scheduled its Reorganization Meeting for Thursday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Superintendent Jim Parla's office at the Gallow School on Farmedge Road. For more information call 520-2100.