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VOL. 32 NO. 42
OCTOBER 14 - 20, 2021
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BOE: Chang to step down in November Mr. Bartels,” board President John O’Shea said. “We’re disappointed in the whole process that The Rockville Centre Board of [Chang] decided to resign after Education and outgoing Superin- one year, and it just seemed to tendent June Chang wo rk b e t t e r f o r reached an agreeeveryone involved if ment on Oct. 7 that he were to leave earwill enable Chang to lier instead of stay resign in November. until May. . . . We all Chang anwish Mr. Chang good nounced his deciluck in his future sion to step down in endeavors, and we a letter to the board are very confident on Aug. 11, just over that Mr. Bartels will a ye a r a f t e r h e be a strong leader for signed a five-year the district until the contract to serve as time comes that we superintendent. His find a permanent resignation was to superintendent.” become ef fective O’Shea did not May 11, 2022, but disclose the finanunder the latest cial details of the agreement, his term agreement between will end on Nov. 19. Chang and the Robert Bartels, school board, but who has been the noted that the board ROBERT district’s assistant would release that superintendent for BARTELS information in the business and person- Acting future. Bartels will nel for two decades, be paid $45,000 in superintendent, will serve as acting addition to his salasuperintendent for RVC schools ry to finish the the rest of the school school year as acting year as the board searches for superintendent, and O’Shea said Chang’s permanent successor. the goal was to remain within “I think it’s for the betterment the $290,000 that was approved as of the district to go forward with CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
M
Courtesy Janice Davidson
CAROL RUCHALSKI, OF the Mary Ruchalski Foundation, left, and Marie Giallombardo, who helps run the Life for Gina Foundation, joined forces to help those dealing with pediatric cancer.
‘Life for Gina’ raises funds for pediatric cancer awareness By TOM CARROZZA tcarrozza@liherald.com
September was Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and the Life for Gina Foundation, based in Rockville Centre, continued its work to help affected families. Late last month, it partnered with the village and the Mary Ruchalski Foundation on a tree-lighting at Village Hall to spread awareness of the lack of funds currently going to pediatric cancer research.
The Life for Gina foundation was created in memory of South Side High School graduate Gina Giallombardo, who died of cancer at 22 in 2011. Giallombardo’s family runs the foundation to help families and to keep Gina’s memory alive after she lost her battle with rhabdomyosarcoma. This year the foundation gave a $1,500 check to the Madalato family, of East Patchogue, to help 2-year-old Jesus Madalato, who has
Stage 4 neuroblastoma. It has also provided a scholarship to a South Side High graduate in Gina’s name each year since 2013, to help with college expenses. This year’s awardee, Kim Kraeling, and her father have both dealt with cancer. Gina’s sister, Janice Davidson, and their parents, Sal and Marie Giallombardo, started the foundation in 2009 to help pay for Gina’s medical CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
y main goal is to provide stability for all of the children and the staff during the Board of Education’s search for a new superintendent.