The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education met for its annual reorganization meeting on July 13 and re-elected Archie T. Cheng of Floral Park as its president. Mr. Cheng had been vice-president of the Sewanhaka board of education since 1997. He has served on the Floral Park-Bellerose Board of Education since 1989 and represented Floral Park/Bellerose on the Sewanhaka Board of Education since 1991. He is an attorney practicing in Floral Park. He graduated from Queens College and holds a juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School. Mr. Cheng has been attorney for the Floral Park Indians, a member of the Floral Park Rescue Company, coach of the Indians soccer and basketball programs, co-coach for the Floral Park Little League and coach for OLV-CYO lacrosse. Mr. Cheng has lived in Floral Park Village since 1978 with his wife, Denise, a registered nurse. His three children are all graduates of Floral Park Memorial High School.

Sewanhaka's vice-president is Dr. Roger Roess, trustee from Franklin Square. Dr. Roess has served on the Franklin Square Board of Education from 1985 through 1991, and returned in 1994. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and a master's and Ph.D. in transportation planning from Polytechnic University. He has had a distinguished career as professor, dean of engineering, and currently, vice-provost for academic operations at Polytechnic University. Dr. Roess is an expert of the textbook, Traffic Engineering, which is used in over 30 universities throughout North America. His wife Janet has been president of the Sewanhaka Central Council of PTAs. The Roesses live in Garden City South. Their two sons are graduates of H. Frank Carey High School.

Returning trustees are Deanna Doreson and Aubrey Phillips from Elmont, Patricia Rudd and Louis Zacarese from New Hyde Park-Garden City Park, Robert Burke from Floral Park-Bellerose and Jean Fichtl representing Franklin Square.

After being sworn in as trustees, the board of education formally welcomed Dr. John R. Williams as Sewanhaka's new superintendent of schools, succeeding Dr. George Goldstein who retired after 19 years as the district's chief educational officer. Mr. Cheng praised Dr. Williams as "an ideal leader for Sewanhaka."

Dr. Williams comes to Sewanhaka after a 37-year career in Scranton, PA, including 11 years as superintendent. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from Lehigh University and master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Scranton. He also taught administration and leadership at Temple University, the University of Scranton and Marywood University and has served on the board of trustees for Keystone College, the University of Scranton, Panuska College of Professional Studies, the Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools and numerous educational and public service organizations. Among his awards and recognition for outstanding leadership are the Leader of the Year award from Leadership Lackawanna and recognition from the Northeastern educational Intermediate Unit as Arts Administrator of the Year.

The Sewanhaka Board of Education's next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. in the third floor board room of Sewanhaka High School, located at Tulip and Covert Avenues in Floral Park. During the 2004-2005 school year, board meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month, with the exceptions of December, February and April. The official schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 28

Tuesday, Oct. 26

Tuesday, Nov. 23

Wednesday, Dec. 15 (change due to holidays)

Tuesday, Jan. 25

Wednesday, Feb. 16 (change due to holidays)

Tuesday, March 22

Wednesday, April 20 (change due to holidays)

Tuesday, May 24

Tuesday, June 28

The public may address the board of education at each session and all citizens are urged to attend.