Beginning at the July 3, 2007 reorganization meeting the Elmont School Board took a number of ground breaking, socially progressive actions. It appointed (4-3) for the first time in its history two well qualified women of color and distinction to leadership positions, president and vice president. Other actions this year included appointing a new district clerk, Ms Lloyd; negotiating a fiscally responsible three-year expansion of Superintendent Al Harper's contract; overseeing the completion of cutting-edge technology in all of our fourth through sixth grade classrooms; and approving the further expansion of the technology into the second and third grades by end of school year 08-09.
On the policy front the school board approved modifications to the Audit Committee policy and the board by-laws 9000 Article 3. The Audit Committee policy was amended to make the audit committee a committee of the whole board (6-1). On June 23, the board met in public session at the Elmont Public Library classroom. The board approved several summer appointments, accepted for first reading revisions to purchasing policies and amended By-Laws 9000 to read, The Board shall, at its organization meeting, or at any subsequent meeting, elect members to fill any vacancies existing on the Board of Education of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. The first such term of office shall be for the period for which the elected members term of office exists in the Elmont Union Free School District. Subsequent terms of office shall be subject to reelection at the organization meeting Vote (4-3)
This By-Law has been the source of controversy dating back several years. This year under the leadership Pam Byer and Elsy Guibert, the board passed a motion to modify the language as indicated above.
Student achievement is up qualitatively and quantitatively. Superintendent Harper at the regular meeting of June 2008 noted that at the recent model UN debate students made motions to extend the debate at or about 9:00PM. The request to extend debate was made to allow other students the opportunity to present their points-of-view on "Nuclear Proliferation". The spirit of learning and the mastery of the subject demonstrated by the students thrilled tired parents and district personnel. Test scores cannot quantify this sort of enthusiasm for learning.
| But all is not well with the Districts' soul |
| As some members struggled to put children first, other board members continue their inappropiate behavior. From successful attempts by Jaime to have his son participate in multiple Albany class trips disregarding the lost opportunities for other district children, to Ragona's politically motivated and now dismissed attempt to bring criminal charges against a well-respected member of the district staff. These and other acts have left the district under a state of siege. |
The Gotham Ave. School is off of the state's schools in need of improvement list after Superintendent Harper made a personal appeal to the Commissioner of Education on behalf of Gotham Ave. students. Some may recall three years ago non-instructional district employees accidentally shredded state tests taken by Gotham Ave. students and the incident ultimately lead to the schools negative designation by New York State Education Department. All that is behind the district now and academic trends remain positive.
Tax levy for 08-09 is zero (0) percent. Strong collaboration with state officials, Mr. Phillips' participation as a member of the State Legislative Network and Governor Patterson's restoration of aid that were slated to be cut by the outgoing Gov. Spitzer helped Elmont and Sewanhaka School districts gains in state aid this year. The increases in state aid were applied to the tax levy in both districts.
Our students continue to participate in community outreach, and humanitarian programs. Among the many good deeds our children participated in was the food drive organized, in part, by Assemblyman Tom Alfano in response to the crisis in Haiti.
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