Board of Education Wraps Up School Year

At its June meeting last Wednesday, the Board of Education began preparing for the break, as well as the transition from this school year into the next.

The following are some of the main items discussed:

Tax Cap

After speaking with Assemblyman Brian Curran, R-Lynbrook, earlier in the day, Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino said “it seems that [the tax cap] is imminent.”

Trustee Alicemarie Bresnihan initiated the comments by saying “The greatest threat to public education in this state are tax caps.”

School boards and their representative organizations throughout the state have been decrying the cap, in this case the lower of 2 percent or rate of inflation, since January, when it became clear that Gov. Andrew Cuomo intended to have one passed.

Trustee William Belmont echoed concerns expressed by Barbarino that the cap would not be accompanied by mandate relief, which would reduce the cost of services mandated by state law. Belmont said that he “got the impression that [it] was kind of lip service” after speaking on his own with members of the state Assembly.

The Common Sense Act of 2010

Attorneys representing the Lynbrook School District in the lawsuit against Nassau County (regarding tax certioraris) have taken action that they believe will speed up the court process and bring a decision by the Fall.

Strategic Planning Committee

Barbarino explained that the district’s Strategic Planning Committee received reports from its designated work groups at its final meeting of the year, held on June 7.

Over the summer, the committee will prepare a final report for review by the district in September for an open community forum. The district plans to present the report to the board in early October.

Annual Safety Plan

Assistant Superintendent of Business Dr. Melissa Burak commented on the surprise lockdown drill held recently at West End Elementary School.

Burak noted that additional training for monitors that had been implemented will continue and the locks used on the doors of the first floor classrooms will be replaced. She concluded by saying that because of the success of the surprise drill, the district would perform another in the Fall.

Changes to Regents Exams

Barbarino announced that the New York Department of Education will likely be making some changes to how the Regents exams are administered.

If the changes occur:

• January exams will be eliminated.
• Social Studies exams for 5th and 8th grades will be eliminated.
• Exams in Italian, French, and Spanish will be eliminated. Barbarino noted that there is a movement supported by the state education department for language departments to develop their own exams to replace the Regents.
• The Regents will institute a new “advanced designation” to deem students “college ready”.

But school board President Cathy Papandrew expressed concern over labeling students in such a way, to which Barbarino concurred, explaining that many students do not exhibit their “college readiness” until they are actually performing in college.

Lynbrook High School Principal Joe Rainis, speaking from the audience, agreed with Papandrew’s distaste for such labels but reassured the board that it probably would not have a negative effect on admittance overall, calling higher education a “growth industry."