This past Wednesday's Elmont Board of Education meeting could have been classified as two different events. First, the board and the district honored some of its finest educators and music students. Then parents, teachers, administrators and board members were treated to performances by the district's jazz band and chorus.

For the jazz band, this year marked the first year of its existence. It was the brainchild of Clara H. Carlson School Principal Matthew Zagami. Mr. Zagami had suggested starting a jazz band. It was an idea he said he came up with when he was in elementary school playing the guitar.

The members of the district's jazz band include members from each of the schools in the district. The members worked hard on Monday afternoons with professional jazz musicians and their hard work paid off. The jazz band's performance earned a standing ovation.

Following the jazz band's performance, the district vocal chorus sang. The chorus also received rave reviews for their work.

The jazz band and the chorus are examples of the students from all the schools in the district working together.

After the performances, the Elmont Board of Education met for its monthly meeting. What seemed like a routine meeting turned into an argument as board members engaged in a discussion about the Sewanhaka Central High School District and the state test scores of Sewanhaka High School.

Board member Joy Madera was concerned about the state test scores on the 2003 eighth-grade English Language Arts exam. The Nassau County average for the test was 63.5 percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards. At Elmont Memorial High School, 63 percent met or exceeded state standards, up 12 percent from last year. At Floral Park Memorial High School, 66 percent met or exceeded state standards, no change from last year. At H. Frank Carey High School, 58 percent met or exceeded state standards, an increase of seven percent over last year. At New Hyde Park Memorial, 63 percent met or exceeded state standards, up three percent from last year. However, at Sewanhaka High School, only 32 percent met or exceeded state standards, down 17 percent from last year.

Elmont School Board member Aubrey Phillips, who is also, along with Deanna Doreson, one of Elmont's representatives to the Sewanhaka Central High School District, said he was concerned that Sewanhaka did poorly in the eighth-grade ESL state test and said the board and the district should begin to look at issues such as curriculum and staffing. Mrs. Doreson said she asked for an analysis of the test results and said a number of students were not educated in the Elmont elementary schools.

Elmont board member Joy Madera said she was disturbed by the test results and why there was a gap in achievement between Sewanhaka High School and the other four schools in the district. "I think we have to insist on parity in the schools. It is not there," she said.

Mrs. Madera said she gets repeated calls from parents who say the high school board doesn't listen. Elmont Board of Education vice president Carl Termini suggested that there is strength in numbers. Mr. Termini suggested that more parents in Elmont should voice their opinions to the high school board if they are dissatisfied, but that board members arguing amongst themselves is the wrong strategy. Mr. Termini said that Elmont's two board members are more likely to be successful on the eight-member high school board if there are residents who raise the issues at the high school board meetings.

Elmont school board member Robert Nori said that there has to be a game plan to address the falling test scores at Sewanhaka. Mr. Nori also said he has never received an answer concerning why the roof fell at Sewanhaka High School.

Mrs. Doreson said the roof fell at Sewanhaka because it is an old school. "It was just something that happened because of age," she said.

As far as test scores go, Mrs. Doreson said that the test scores are an issue all component districts are concerned about, because if one of the schools doesn't do well, it brings down the average of the whole district. Also, Mrs. Doreson said she doesn't feel the test scores are a true example of the achievement of students. "I'm always proud of our kids whether they get high scores or don't get high scores," she said.

Sewanhaka parent Patrick Nicolosi said the discussion about the Sewanhaka test scores was disrespectful to Sewanhaka since many students receive a fine education there.

District resident Thomas Madera suggested there is a problem with how the public is received by the high school board. Responding to Mr. Termini's suggestion that parents should stand up and be heard at the high school board meetings, Mr. Madera said that some parents may be reluctant to stand up because of fear their children may be threatened. Mr. Madera also said that it is not in the makeup of some people to stand up and be heard. In that case, the people need their elected officials to bring about change where it is needed.

Mrs. Doreson said she does challenge the administration at the high school district. "Let no one here be mistaken that I don't go up and challenge that administrative staff," she said.

The next regular meeting of the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education will take place on Wednesday, June 25 at Sewanhaka High School, 500 Tulip Avenue in Floral Park. The public session will commence at 8 p.m.