Levittown Board of Education members convened for their organizational meeting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, at the Levittown Memorial Education Center. The seven member board and support staff were nominated and unanimously installed for the 2005-2006 school year.

Immediately following, the board meeting commenced with the superintendent's report given by Dr. Herman Sirois.

Dr. Sirois announced that School Board President, James Moran received a notification from the New York State School Board Association that the Levittown multi-year budget process was accepted by the Association for its October conference and will be included in the Best Practices Publication. In addition, the Levittown Board of Education has been invited to run one of the institutes at the School Board member training workshop which will be held in Albany on July 24. Dr. Sirois stated that this was "quite an honor."

The meeting continued with opportunity for the public to be heard. MacArthur Parents Athletic Club (MAC PAC) co-Presidents Mary Celentani and Terri Tom addressed the board regarding the demolition of the current snack stand during the upcoming replacement of the bleachers at MacArthur High School. The revenue from the snack stand benefits MacArthur's athletic teams. The board explained that the new bleacher plans, already submitted and approved by the state, indicated a handicap ramp to be constructed where the snack stand is currently located. The board further advised that any modifications to the plans would have to be resubmitted to the state which would cause a delay in construction and likely cost overruns due to the recent increase in steel prices. The board assured attendees that construction would not interfere with the upcoming football season and a temporary snack stand would be provided until a permanent structure could be built.

Next, Mr. Schneider, a representative of the Wantagh Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners, addressed the school board regarding the current traffic pattern at MacArthur High School. Mr. Schneider indicated that the current flow of traffic regarding the student parking lot located next to the firehouse on Wantagh Avenue is unsafe for the students and has hindered volunteer personnel while responding to alarms. He suggested reversing the current traffic pattern and offered to serve on a traffic safety committee with MacArthur High School.

Dr. Sirois welcomed Mr. Schneider's offer and invited him and other members of the Wantagh Fire Department to join them at a future traffic committee meeting.

Just before adjournment of the meeting, the board welcomed back Emma Burkert, who was appointed to serve as surrogate parent on the Committee of Special Education (CSE) for the 2005/2006 school year.

The board will reconvene at the Memorial Education Center for a planning session on Wednesday July 20 at 8 p.m. A special meeting is scheduled for Friday July 22 at 8 p.m., and a regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 8 p.m.