East Rockaway School Board Sets Agenda For Monthly Meeting

In keeping with its desire to stay in touch with the community it serves, the East Rockaway Board of Education discussed proper responses to correspondence at Tuesday night’s Board of Education Agenda Meeting at

While the main purpose of the meeting was to set the agenda for next , a lengthy discussion on letter response dominated the early portion of public session.

It was determined that as, at the very least, a courtesy measure, it is important that all who send letters and other forms of correspondence receive recognition or “receipt” that the issue was brought to the attention of the board.

“If somebody takes the time to write you a letter, there needs to be some kind of acknowledgement,” Superintendent Dr. Roseanne Melucci said.

Melucci later asked that the resignation of a part-time bus driver and Cindy Singer, an administrator, be accepted. The district will soon begin the search for Singer’s replacement.

The board will be approving the 2012-13 school district calendar at next week's meeting. Also up for approval will be an acceptance of a corrective active plan as recommended by R.S Abrams in connection with the external audit of the districts’ 2010-11 finances, a contractor for training services for accounts payable, the donation of a book from the American Legion and the donation of a Sony 16G series Tablet (valued at $554.86) for the Centre Avenue Elementary School library.

The Superintendent also asked the board to approve the contract for a consultant that facilitated the Elementary School Reorganization Study and the resulting community reaction meetings, and the contract for staff training by the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN). All East Rockaway Educational staff are required to have CCAN certification by the end of the year, according to Melucci.

The Animals in Schools policy is scheduled for adoption at the upcoming meeting. This policy will allow for students who wish not to participate in lessons with animals, such as dissections, to opt out and be provided with an alternative learning opportunity, according to board President Neil Schloth.

All these issues, as well as a public participation session, will be further discussed on in the East Rockaway High School Auditorium. A mathematics curriculum presentation will also take place during the meeting, according to the school district calendar.