With the surge of new mandates imposed by New York state on school districts over recent years, many additional tasks have been required of school officials. In order for Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School to properly meet these new requirements, the Board of Education recently voted to appoint an associate principal at the high school.

Currently, the school's administration is made up of Principal Art Jonas and three assistant principals. With the new structure, recommended by Jonas, one of the assistant principals, Tom Sena, will become the associate principal position.

"I am pleased that the board supported our recommendation to create this new position," said POB Superintendent Dr. Martin Brooks. "It is the most fiscally and educationally sound way to solve the issue of tackling these additional responsibilities."

Sena accepted his new position, which officially began on July 1, with a long list of credentials. He spent 27 years in New York City public schools. Seven years at Springfield Gardens High School, eight years as assistant director at Middle College Alternative High School, which is on the campus of Laguardia Community College, and 12 years at Beach Channel High School as assistant principal of pupil personnel services. He came to Plainview six years ago and has been at JFK High School ever since.

Among the added duties of the associate principal are overseeing and coordinating the instructional and administrative technology, coordinating and implementing the new teacher orientation programs, coordinating and arranging for academic intervention services, assisting in maintaining discipline throughout the student body and dealing with special cases as necessary, representing the principal at disciplinary hearings in the school and at district level and assuming responsibility for building security including transportation and the cafeteria.

"I have a great deal of support at the high school so I don't think taking on the new responsibilities will be a problem," said Sena. "I am looking forward to it."

More important to Sena is the grand opening of two new wings at the high school. The new wings will house 18 new classrooms, including new science rooms. Sena explained that since merging the two high schools a few years back, there is the lingering threat of the school becoming overcrowded. "With new homes going up in the area, we knew there would be additional high school students," said Sena. "It is a fantastic opportunity for the school and the district to add on some new rooms and even some new science rooms."

Sena, along with school officials, plans to have the remaining construction run according to schedule and open the new wings before school starts in September.