You could tell it was summer by the looks of the attendance at last week's Mineola Board of Education meeting. Only a handful of residents attended the meeting, a quiet and brief session, who saw the board of education welcome the new principal of the Jackson Avenue School and authorize the 2006-2007 base salary increase for the district's confidential staff as per work agreements.

Although two of the board members - board vice president John McGrath and trustee Lawrence Carroll - were not in attendance, the board still had a quorum with three of the members.

With a vote of 3-0, the board appointed Matt Gaven as the principal of the Jackson Avenue School effective Aug. 7. Gaven will take over for Ida Ayres, who was principal of the school for 23 years. The popular Ayres resigned for the purposes of retirement.

In accordance with the contract between the Mineola Board of Education and the Association of Mineola School Administrators, Gaven was hired at a salary of $136,991, which includes the Step 2 salary of $131,997 for an elementary school principal and $4,994 for at least 30 additional credits.

Gaven comes to Mineola from the Garden City School District, where he was principal of the Locust School. Superintendent of School Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli said that Gaven was hired after an extensive process and the district is delighted to have him as the new principal of the school. The superintendent also said Gaven's references were impeccable. The new principal thanked the board for the opportunity and said he can't wait to get started at the Jackson Avenue School.

In another administrative move, the board promoted high school Assistant Principal Hilary Bernstein to director of guidance at the high school. Mineola Board of Education President Mary Ellen Williams said the district would be looking to hire someone to take the assistant principal position to work alongside Principal Ed Escobar and Assistant Principal Larry Puccio.

The board also authorized the raises in base salaries of its confidential staff including the superintendent, deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, assistant business administrator as well as the directors of pupil services, transportation and buildings and grounds.

The board doesn't meet again until Aug. 17 for a workshop/business meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Willis Avenue School cafeteria.