The Mineola School District is shooting for the start of 2003-2004 school year for the opening of the new Willis Avenue School for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes. While construction is ongoing, the district is conducting a study on whether it is feasible to implement a full-day kindergarten program when the school opens as opposed to the half-day program that currently exists.

At last week's board of education meeting, district director of elementary education Sheryl Goffman outlined the measures currently being taken in order to make a recommendation to the board on whether it is possible to have a full-day kindergarten program in the near future.

A committee consisting of the director of elementary education, the director of pupil services, an elementary school principal, primary parents and primary teachers was put together to gather and analyze data before a recommendation is made.

The committee initially met on September 18 and plans to meet again on October 15 and October 30 to gather data and review research. Data is collected through a variety of sources such as surveys that were sent out to parents and teachers of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade and second grade students as well as parents of future kindergarten students such as those who are 3 years old and those who are 4 years old, but aren't enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program.

The committee also plans on visiting school districts that have a full-day kindergarten program such as Manhasset, Roslyn, Plainview, Garden City and Herricks. The committee has already visited the Carle Place School District.

The committee plans to meet again on Nov. 7 and then for its final meeting on Nov. 25 to review the survey results, identify the challenges as well as the advantages of implementing a full-day kindergarten program, before making a recommendation to the superintendent and the board.

Academically, there has been research that supports the benefit of having a full-day kindergarten program. According to Goffman, research indicated that in some areas of learning, students of full-day kindergarten programs outshined students of half-day programs; in some areas, both programs yielded the same results.

While there may be academic benefits to implementing a full-day kindergarten program, in determining feasibility, there are several factors to consider. Factors identified by the committee that must be looked into included the cost of implementing such a program, whether the district will have enough space in the new school, how a full-day program would affect the district's curriculum, transportation for the students, whether there is enough time for staff development and whether there is enough interest from the school community.

Goffman said there would be further updates in the future concerning the committee's work.

Carole Abbatiello Retires

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli said goodbye to secretary to the superintendent and office manager Carole Abbatiello, who retired. Carole attended the Mineola School herself, having gone to the Cross Street School, the Willis Avenue School for seventh and eighth grade and Mineola High School, which was then located where the middle school is now. Carole also raised her children in Mineola and lives there today. "Carole has been an absolute wonder for me to work with," said Dr. Licopoli.

Faculty and Staff Members Honored

At the board meeting, several faculty and staff members were honored for extraordinary work in getting the school buildings ready for the start of the school year. They are:

Nominated by Dr. Michael Nagler

Katie Sheehan, Fran Jankowski, Ken Coy, Sue Kennedy, Andy Johnson

Nominated by Cynthia Rossi

Ingrid Luedtke, Elizabeth Cahill

Nominated by Rob Ratner

Harold Watson

Nominated by Ida Ayres

Tom Farrell, Dorrie Bernardo, Susan Kemmett

Nominated by Patricia Molloy

Regina McWeeney, Jackie Teemsma

Nominated by Linda Langiulli

Francisco Espinal, Frank Cassidy, Charlie McCullough, Tom Snopkowski

Nominated by Janice Patterson

Gina Hahn

Nominated by Mark Barth

Pat Galligan

Nominated by John Jackson

Kathy Merendino, Cathy Schwarz

Nominated by Dr. Fern Moskowtiz

Kenneth Romano