The Mineola Board of Education held its reorganization meeting last month. As expected, Mary Ellen Williams was named president of the board. The Mineola board uses a rotation of its members when it comes to selecting a president and it was Williams' turn. The board elected John McGrath as vice president.

Next school year, the Mineola School District will have some new faces. Two of the elementary schools will have new principals. The board hired Matthew Gaven as the new principal of the Jackson Avenue School to take over for Ida Ayres, who resigned for the purpose of retirement. Gaven comes to Mineola from the Garden City School District, where he was principal of the Locust School, which served kindergarten and first grade students.

Heading up the Hampton Street School will be Dr. Sue Caryl Fleischmann, whose previous job was vice principal for the Accompsett Elementary School in Smithtown.

Among the changes for the Mineola School District are Jack Waters coming on as assistant superintendent for finance and operations. Waters served in the same capacity for the Amityville School District. He also worked as assistant superintendent at the East Islip School District.

The position of assistant superintendent for business and finance once belonged to John Jackson, who was convicted of embezzling funds from the district. The board elected to eliminate the position after Jackson was indicted. However, based on a recommendation from the district's outside auditors Callaghan Nawrocki, LLP, the board of education interviewed three firms for its general and labor counsel. The board's present firm of Ehrlich, Frazer and Feldman ultimately was reappointed. The firm was part of the district's negotiating committee when the district negotiated the last contract between the district and the Mineola Teachers Association, which is due to expire on June 30, 2007.

- Joe Rizza