Schools

West Hempstead School Board Takes on F.D. Tax Breaks, Bomb Threat and Battle Over Fields

HIghlights from the January business meeting of the West Hempstead Board of Education.

The West Hempstead Board of Education took on some hot-button issues at its monthly business meeting on Tuesday night. They decided to revisit two policies that had been voted on during December, which had elicited strong reactions from the parents and other taxpayers in attendance. One regarded tax breaks for volunteer firefighters, which the board had denied, and another dealt with the requirements for sports teams to use district facilities, which they revised to open up the process to organizations not based in West Hempstead that included teams with a number of residents on their rosters.

The board also tackled new business items, including signing on to a lawsuit against Nassau County, and fielded questions from concerned parents and faculty members about the bomb scare that occurred in the middle school last week.

Here's a recap of the Jan. 18 meeting:

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Teachers' Stage Protest - Again

Faculty members lined the hallways outside the West Hempstead High School auditorium before the meeting yet again Tuesday night, in an act of silent protest that is becoming a fixture at these school board gatherings.

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They each wore red shirts that read "Enough! 428 Days and Counting!" that had been printed at the start of the school year. The teachers have now been working over 600 days without a contract.

The teachers stood at their posts, many holding signs that read, "Negotiating in Good Faith," as the school administrators and board members passed by to enter the auditorium. No words were spoken, but the message was loud and clear.

Barbara Hafner, president of the West Hempstead Education Association, later told Patch that the teachers' union submitted a proposal to the district on Dec. 21. The last formal exchange between the two sides was an e-mail from a NYSUT (New York State Unified Teachers) representative to the district's attorney indicating that WHEA would accept the four year proposal, which includes a one percent increase for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

"This is exactly what the board had proposed initially back in October," Hafner said."WHEA is making every effort on our part to settle."

Hafner said that the group is also working on forming a committee to discuss the issue of professional development hours.

"We're looking to put together new language," she said. She also explained that while the district wanted to include an appeals process for the new teacher evaluation system required by New York State into the contract, Hafner said it is impossible to do so because a State Education Department taskforce is still creating the language for this new policy.

"What are we appealing?" Hafner said, adding that once the language exists, WHEA would be happy to move forward on this issue.

Budget Process Begins

After approving the minutes and the Treasurer's Report - with some minor corrections and clarifications - the board informed the public that the budget process was underway, but that the Budget Advisory meeting had been canceled earlier this month due to inclement weather. Board member Anthony Brita is working on rescheduling it.

Student Council Seeks to Upgrade School Mascot

A representative for the West Hempstead High School Student Council delivered a few brief notes about the projects the group has been working on. Among them is a fundraising drive to purchase a new Rams costume for the school's mascot. They estimate it will cost them around $900. They will be selling raffle tickets from now until Feb. 4 to raise this money. Next month, they'll also be running a program to teach students in the Middle School and High School about healthy relationships. 

District Working to Keep Island Park Kids

Board President Pamela Lotito said that board members from West Hempstead and Island Park met on Jan. 13  for two and a half hours and had "a very constructive exchange of ideas." She added that West Hempstead still desires to retain Island Park students and will work very hard to continue to attract them to the school district.

In his Superintendent's Report, John Hogan added that many Island Park eighth graders have already made their decisions about where to attend high school next year. Thirty students picked West Hempstead High School, 32 chose Long Beach, a number opted to enroll in private schools and another batch of about 30 kids are still undecided. These children are still waiting to hear back from parochial schools they applied to. Hogan said he and his colleagues will continue to follow-up with officials from Island Park to work on the issues discussed at the meeting and will relay any updates to both the board and the public.

Battle Over Fields: Part II

As Lotito opened the floor for the first portion of public commentary, they found themselves revisiting a topic that caused much controversy during their December meeting. (for the recap of that meeting.)

Brendan Smith, president of the West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club, directed the board's attention to a memo he had sent them regarding the recent change they had approved to the policy regarding field and facility permits to sports teams.

The original rule had reserved use of district sports facilities to organizations that were comprised of 80 percent residents from West Hempstead. The amended policy now applies the 80 percent rule to the team requesting the permit rather than the entire league.

Some parents involved in youth sports programs that are affiliated with West Hempstead, including coaches from the Chiefs' and the Broncos', criticize the new policy because the community-based teams alone already struggle to share the space. 

The new policy was first put to use during the December meeting ,when board members voted to approve a permit submitted by one of their own, Anthony Brita, who wanted to use the district's sports facilities for his son's team, which is part of a league not based in West Hempstead. The team does include West Hempstead residents.

This incident prompted  parents to raise concerns about board members using their position to influence policy that would benefit themselves.

In his memo, Smith stated, "...it is apparent that the way the current policy is written opens our facilities to be used by non West Hempstead Organizations. I strongly suggest that the board adjust the language in the current policy to reflect one that protects our facilities to be only used by organizations that represent West Hempstead."

Smith also called for a change in the agenda the board distributes to the public prior to the start of the meeting. In December, some parents said they would have spoken up during the first session for public input if they knew this policy was being put to a vote.

"Going forward any item that is subject to be voted upon for use of facilities should be clearly detailed on the agenda for the meeting to allow for community to debate and give the board members the opportunity to table voting on specific use of permits," he wrote."

He concluded his letter to the board by addressing the conflict of interest issue.

"Lastly, any school board official who has any interest in the outcome of a permit being passed should abstain from voting on and debating the permit...insuring that prejudice and self interest would not disqualify the intention of the application." 

He even provided an example of how the language of the policy could read.

Lotito explained to Smith that the board had received the memo and had decided to review the policy at its Feb. 8 meeting and it would be voted on again at the business meeting later that month.

Loraine Magaraci, a parent who is active with West Hempstead Broncos football and cheerleading programs, pointed out several other coaches from West Hempstead sports teams that were seated in the auditorium that night.

"I want to make sure it's clear to the board how we feel,” she said, explaining that the group would like to see the policy fixed again to reserve the use of sports fields and courts to West Hempstead organizations and not just teams comprised of players living in West Hempstead.

"We jokingly battle over fields and facilities….to through in another town that just opens the door for other towns to come in apply for permit," she said, adding that she is very afraid with of the precedent that has been set.

Lotito reiterated the fact that the issue will be discussed at the policy meeting, where she said the board always welcomes public input.

Stay tuned to Patch for more updates regarding this issue.

District Joins Suit Against County

The board also voted to approve an agreement with Hamburger, Maxson, Yaffe, Knauer and McNally, LLP, a law firm selected to litigate a suit that group of local school districts have filed against Nassau County regarding property assessments. The board needed to decided whether the district was going to join the handful of others that have signed onto the suit. The goal is to recruit 38 districts for the suit before the March 3 deadline, but administrators were instructed to make their decisions in the month of January to allow time to prepare necessary paperwork.

The cost to each district involved in the suit is $5,000. Those that don't participate can still reap the benefits, which prompted board member Anthony Brita to ask, "What benefit do we gain if we’re going to be a beneficiary either way?"

Brita added, "I feel right now we’re making a decision without knowing what the other school districts are going to do. I’d like to see what other school districts are signing up for this suit…look at our budget situation - $5,000 doesn’t seem like a lot but we’re already making sacrifices."

A lawyer involved in the suit explained the problem with Brita's theory, saying,"If everyone takes the position of we get the benefits even if we don’t participate, there isn’t going to be any litigation."

This means that when Nassau County does its assessments, whatever mistakes they make the school district would pay for it.

"If you do nothing and you’re one of the districts that stands to lose substantially -  and I believe you are -  you're forced to pay your share of assessments when judgments come down," the attorney said, adding that this problem occurs often with commercial properties.

The district would also be responsible for legal fees associated with defending the assessment, he said. "Unless you are really quite confident that you’re not going to have to pick up any judgments…it's in your best interests."

Board member Cynthia Di Miceli was the first to express her support of passing the motion to join in the suit.

"I think we have to be in it…we have to participate," she said.

Fellow board member, Rudolf Schindler, also spoke in favor of the proposal. "If no one participates, then we all lose out," he said. "It sounds like a very small price in comparison to the cost savings. "

Upon hearing that the $5,000 cost to the district would be capped, Schindler responded,"Ooo..that’s good. That’s a bargain!"

Patch will continue to follow this suit.

New Hope for Firefighter's Seeking Tax Break

After disappearing for 20-minutes  to discuss a "personnel issue" in executive session, the board returned, passed the motion and then gave DiMiceli the floor. She had two items she wished to bring before her fellow board members, one of which was a, which would have granted tax breaks for local firefighters.

The board asked if a member of either the Lakeview or West Hempstead Fire Departments were present at this meeting. When no one responded, a woman seated in the back of the room said, to her knowledge, the firefighters were not informed that they should attend this meeting.

"I do think it would be appropriate for the  firefighters to be here," DiMiceli said, asking Lotito if the board should move discussion of this issue to another meeting. Lotito decided to continue with the discussion, as Deputy Superintendent Richard Cunningham had done his research on the matter.

Depending on how the board words the policy, firefighters who live in the West Hempstead school district and who have been active members of the or s would be eligible for a tax break. Those serving a minimum of 20 years would be entitled to receive this perk for life even after they retire from the department.

"This would have no impact on our budget whatsoever?" Schindler asked the district's attorney, who responded, "That's correct."

Since this policy would need to be passed before Feb. 1 to go into effect for this year, the board decided to table the motion for its next meeting, which will be held on Jan. 25.

Parents, Faculty Criticize District's Response to Bomb Scare

The board opened up the meeting for a second round of public comment. By doing this, they opened themselves up for criticism and a barrage of questions from upset faculty and parents regarding the bomb scare that occurred in the Middle School last week. for the full story.

Important Dates to Remember

Jan. 24 - PTA Meeting, Cornwell Avenue School, 7:30pm

Jan, 25 - Board of Education Business Meeting

Jan. 27- Strategic Planning Council Meets, West Hempstead Middle School

Jan. 31- Kindergarten Registration Starts, Chestnut Street School

Feb. 8 - Board of Education Policy/ Work Session

Feb. 15 - Board of Education Business Meeting

 


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