Superintendent Parade

Members of John F. Kennedy High School’s Special Education Department extended their congratulations.

Photos by Jordan Vallone/Herald

Sending off the superintendent in style

By Jordan Vallone

On June 2, 2021, a crowd gathered outside of Brookside School on Meadowbrook Road for a car parade honoring the outgoing superintendent of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, John DeTommaso, who retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year. The assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Michael Harrington, assumed his role.

The parade, which began at Calhoun High School and headed north on Meadowbrook Road, included district trustees, administrators, educators and PTA members from the three high schools and two middle schools within the district, who came out in dozens of cars to extend their well wishes to the retiring superintendent. DeTommaso was also joined by his family.

Throughout and after the parade, attendees were entertained by a musical performance led by a group of administrators in the district.

The parade was followed by a Board of Education meeting, at which other retirees and the valedictorians and salutatorians from each high school were honored.

DeTommaso, who held his position for eight years, was visibly surprised and grateful.

“It’s been an incredible run here,” he said. “I want to thank everybody in this whole district and community.”

Left middle photo: DeTommaso walked out of Brookside School, surprised and smiling at the parade in his honor. Left bottom photo: Cars entered the parade from Meadowbrook Road. Right bottom photo: The band, comprised of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District administrators, entertained guests throughout the event with classic songs such as “American Girl” and “Footloose.”