New Levittown School District employees were formally introduced to the community and to the board of education, at their monthly meeting on Oct. 10. About 100 new teachers, guidance counselors and others were greeted by the board, as well as district administration. A reception then followed in the Panther Room at Levittown Memorial.

This was not the first time the board has met the new teachers, as a three-day orientation the final week of August gave teachers an opportunity to get acclimated with the administration and their new surroundings.

New Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Debbie Rifkin then reported on the summer curriculum projects. The projects created a number of new half-year courses in the high schools this year, as was the case last year. These extra courses have been made possible by the implementation of the nine-period school day two years ago.

Some of the issues voice in this month's public be heard portion of the meeting centered around new topics such as re-zoning, nepotism, moving Enrichment programs to Laurel Lane and consolidation with other school districts.

One Levittown resident spoke about the majority of students who attend Abbey Lane, progress onto Wisdom Lane Middle School, while others move onto Salk, depending on where they live. She said this creates a situation for the students of meeting new friends and classmates in sixth grade.

"There is absolutely no room for movement in the middle school and high schools right now," board president Gina Interdonato said. "This has been a subject that has been addressed over the years, as a rezoning committee had been formed at times. But right now it would not be feasible."

A regular board of education meeting attendee, James Ward, approached the podium with myriad different requests regarding what he called nepotism. The board shot down any notion of this in Levittown, as Superintendent Dr. Herman Sirois said he is proud of their strict hiring process.

"The process is specifically designed where the board can't hire or screen anyone," Dr. Sirois said. "The board just approves them after being interviewed by a series of committees."

Those committees include other teachers, chairpersons, principals, parents, and whatever else might be deemed necessary.

With consolidation being such a prevalent word in today's local government, Levittown has decided to start looking into it as well. Board meeting regular Steve Shapiro suggested the idea, and Interdonato confirmed that the district has met with Island Trees on possibly merging functions together such as snow removal.

As reported in previous months, the board is trying to rectify the dangerous situation at Tally Lane on the east side of Wantagh Avenue adjacent to the Southern State eastbound entrance ramp. A signed petition has been completed, and the board has agreed to accept it. That means the next step is to see if this zone qualifies as a Child Safety Zone. According to Levittown District Attorney Jonathan Heidelberger, if the board agrees that it does qualify, then it would be put up for a districtwide vote. If it is passed it would then become a contingent budget item each year.

Another vote is coming up on Nov. 15 regarding the EXCEL Bond Issue. There is a special public forum on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Levittown Memorial Auditorium, who will answer any questions that residents might have on this issue. The next regular board of education meeting will be one day before the vote, Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at LMEC.