The June 14 school board meeting began with a tribute to Marie Rogers, a 33-year resident of Manhasset and a sixth-grade teacher at the Shelter Rock School who died on May 28. Her many contributions were mentioned--"her knowledge, dedication, humor and leadership" which "helped to create the learning community known as Team Six." It was said she "inspired a generation of children to reach their academic and human potential and that Shelter Rock parents benefited from her wise counsel and support." Her "professional standards and excellence were recognized as a recipient of Who's Who Among America's Teachers 2003-2004."

"Now, be it resolved," was read in conclusion "that her exemplary life as a teacher of our children and our neighbor is, by this resolution, memorialized by the Manhasset Board of Education and recorded in the minutes of its meeting of June 14, 2005."

Anthony DeMarinis, a tenth-grader, said Mrs. Rogers was his first teacher, that he knew her well and when he heard the sad news he wanted to do something to remember her. As a result, there is now the Mrs. Rogers Sixth Grade Friday Night Live Get Together, and the proceeds raised from the event will support, each year, the St. Francis bread line for needy families. This year the $500 check was presented to her husband to give to the charity in his wife's memory. Mr. Rogers then spoke of his wife and thanked the students and the community for their support.

Cindy Cardinal, board vice-president, addressed the group saying this would be outgoing Board President Tom Maimone's last public meeting. He would be leaving on a high, she quipped, "being the only board member ever praised by Admiral Early for his work on the school budget." Cardinal summarized his time of service stating, "Tom has accepted every challenge, studied diligently, addressed issues, negotiated and advocated, all so that our district would stay on track and reach even greater heights. His leadership this year has been outstanding and his knowledge of our district is unparalleled." She presented him with a plaque as an expression of appreciation for his six years on the board, the last as president.

SCA President, Mary Madden, said she, too, will be stepping down as president this year. "A page is turning," she said, "and the district will continue to move forward." Madden recounted that a notable once said a person is measured over time by his courage, good judgment, integrity and dedication. Tom Maimone possesses all four qualities, she said, and, "speaking for the 11,000 members of the SCA, it has been a privilege to watch your diligence and dedication to the children of Manhasset." Madden ended by saying "we will note you in our book of memories, and it has been a privilege." She then presented him with a framed selection of photographs prepared "by our archivist, Chris Lopez."

Tom Maimone said he is only one board member leaving, and good people remain. He then expressly thanked his wife, Joan, for "her amazing level of support" in keeping their day-to-day lives running during his long hours attending to school business. Some of his children were present and he said he was about to make up for the many missed games and dramatic productions during his tenure on the board. Maimone thanked the community for electing him twice and said during his "six years of service the community issues became my issues and the community's children became my children."

Maimone continued saying "there was never a year in Manhasset's history like this past one. What was accomplished could not have been done without the dedication of my mentors, Vinnie Calluzzo and Betty Masone who taught me what it was to be a board member." He added, "two years ago I was frustrated and when Cindy Cardinal was elected to the board she reinforced my observations and gave me energy and vigor to redouble my efforts. We knew we had to make changes when the year ended in austerity, and this year the budget passed and we are moving forward."

Maimone had many kind words to say about the SCA and Mary Madden, whose council, he said, he sought often and was never disappointed. He also thanked those groups that marshaled the troops to get the budget passed, noting Regina Rule who he said, "has more energy than the Eveready Bunny." He gave special thanks to Brenda Damiani, office of community services, and Carol Catanzaro, district clerk, saying if something had to be done you could call them and it would be done. He thanked Austin Gavin, interim assistant superintendent for business and Rosemary Johnson, accountant, for their hard work on the budget. He extolled Bill Shine, interim superintendent, "for the vision and intelligence he brings to the position. Dr. Shine should be the model we strive to measure up to, and he appeared at a time when we needed direction, because for a long time we felt leaderless." Lastly he thanked "Eugene Garges and Paul Early for attending meetings and being involved, and for reminding the board of people whose interests have to be considered," and he thanked them "for disagreeing without backbiting."

"The rubber meets the road in the classroom," Maimone said. "There will be about 500 employees next year, and two years ago there were about 700."

Public comment followed and Jo Ann Peluso thanked the board for their attention to the cell phone towers. She commented that "with the administrative turnover it has been difficult but this board has made headway." She was pleased they would "keep students out of the cell phone tower." Maimone gave a little background saying there are three towers and the concern is the radiation from the antennas. "They were tested by an expert who said the level of radiation was not harmful," he said. "The disagreement hinges on the questionable methods of measurement." Dr. Shine said, "at issue is the readings were not taken around the periphery of the room."

Next on the agenda was the Manhasset Athletic Advisory Committee (MAAC) report delivered by Craig Anderson, chairman, the Math Curriculum Cycle Update presented by District Mathematics Coordinator, Ron Labrocca, and the English Curriculum Cycle Update presented by District Coordinator K-12 English Language Arts, Anja Groth. The MAAC report will be presented at a later date.