READER OF THE WEEK IS JEAN PATMAN OF AMITYVILLE
Artist, S. Mary Anna Ering Page 3
Vol. 120, No. 23
WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2024
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www.amityvillerecord.com
Pets, Pets, Pets Page 5
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Amityville School Board votes to fill Heller’s seat before July 1 Decision made in split vote by the board and raises some controversy By Carolyn James The Amityville School Board voted to move forward on appointing a replacement to fill the seat left vacant by Trustee Dave Heller, who stepped down last month. The vote was taken at a school board meeting on May 30 with newly sworn in trustee Wendy Canestro voting in opposition. Under the law, the school board has four options to fill a trustee seat: call a special election, leave the seat open until the next election, make an appointment or let the director of BOCES make the appointment. Board members unanimously agreed that they did not want to hold a special election, citing the costs involved, and they didn’t want BOCES to appoint a trustee. The division came when the board’s
majority, consisting of President Lisa Johnson and trustees Jeannette Santos, Carol Seehof and Leslie Kretz (Trustee Juan Leon was absent), voted to move forward and make the appointment before July 1, which is when newly elected trustees Caroline Fanning and Megan Messman will be sworn in. The two women roundly defeated longtime trustees Santos and Leon. “Why the rush now to fill this seat when you left the seat of Dr. Terry Fulton open for months?” asked Canestro, who won Fulton’s seat, on May 21 and was sworn in immediately since the seat was vacant. “This community made it clear that it wanted change and the new board members they put into office should be part of the decision on who the next trustee will be.” The question of filling the seat was not on the agenda, but the board opened discussion and voted on it at the end of the meeting, which it is legally permitted to do. However, one resident repeatedly asked to speak before the vote was taken and was turned down by Johnson, who noted that the portion of the meeting reserved for speaking on non-agenda items had closed. “What is the rush to appoint someone when it wasn’t even on the agenda,” asked the resident, Crystal Rodriguez. “People should have the opportunity to speak when the issue is not on With the help of Mr. Jovic, Blanco fur- the agenda. I should have ther submitted his work to be featured been able to speak about in the Young Writers Association’s it.” “This is a clear bid yearly publication. He is pictured with Copiague Middle School English to maintain power and Chairperson Christopher Gaudioso erode the voting public’s (left) and English teacher Lucijan Jo- decision for a new board and fresh ideas,” said vic.
IN THE NEWS
Young writer honored at Copiague Middle School
Copiague Middle School eighth grade student Elijah Blanco was recently recognized for his creative writing. Blanco, a student in Mr. Jovic's writing class, submitted his work to a creative writing contest. He was selected as a finalist and was also chosen as the most creative piece of writing.
Canestro, noting that the meeting was sparsely attended. Johnson said the board moved on the issue after several residents raised the question at the May 30 meeting of whether the seat would be filled at the meeting. Johnson added that the board would be asking community residents for suggestion on candidates and would then consider and interview them. Anyone interested in being considered for the seat must be a esident of the Amityville School District and should send a letter of interest and resume to the District Clerk, Melissa Durnin at mdurnin@ amityvilleufsd.org. The deadline is June 12. The letter of interest must be no longer than two pages. During the executive session of a special meeting to be held on a date yet to be determined in June, all letters will be reviewed by the board and it will select candidates for interviewing. A public announcement will be made of those candidates selected for an interview and the board will hold a special meeting at a later date announce the candidate selected to fill the seat. That meeting will take place no later than June 21. In other business, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbot put a statement on the district’s website explaining that another item on the agenda had caused some confusion in the community. The item noted that an attendance teacher, three elementary school teachers, five physical education teachers and four teaching assistants were being let go effective June 30. Many residents thought these were additional cuts in staff positions, but Talbot said they are part of the announced $2.8 million cuts to personnel, programs, and services. “The purpose (of the agenda item) is to take formal action on these eliminations,” Talbot said, noting that the cuts were necessary because the district didn’t want to exceed the 2024-2025 budget tax cap. “We want to assure our community that no new cuts have been made beyond what was already included in the budget voters approved on May 21,” Talbot added. “The changes being discussed are part of the plan to ensure fiscal responsibility while striving to maintain the quality of education for our students.” The next regular board of education meeting is Wed., June 12, 7:30 p.m.