Lawrence reorganizes for a new school year

Murray Forman named board president

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The meeting was brief — 20 minutes in total — but much was done as the Lawrence Board of Education reorganized for a new school year.
For the fourth time in his tenure as a trustee, Murray Forman was elected unanimously to serve as president, succeeding a one-year run by David Sussman. Forman was re-elected in May to his fourth three-year term.
Asher Mansdorf was elected to be the board’s vice president by all five trustees in attendance. Abel Feldhamer and Tova Plaut did not attend the July 3 meeting. Mansdorf was also re-elected in May after defeating challenger Asher Matathias. Mansdorf is in his fifth term on the board.
“My goal is to continue the positive trajectory and improve student outcomes and negotiate a contract with our teachers,” said Forman, adding that ensuring that the sale of the Number Six School is finalized and getting Hurricane Sandy reimbursement money are also priorities.
The school district and the Lawrence Teachers Association have been negotiating a new contract for the past three years. “We are now entering our fourth year of negotiations with a Board of Education that has been utterly intransigent,” said Lori Skonberg, president of the LTA. “Hopefully Mr. Forman will back up his words with the leadership necessary to accomplish his goal.”

During the meeting, the board approved agreements with the companies that supply Lawrence with sports equipment, musical instruments and other service agreements.
With another hurricane season underway and Sandy still a strong memory, there is an agreement with the American Red Cross for a district building to be used as emergency shelters. The Nassau Herald was designated one of the three official school district newspapers, along with Newsday and Long Island Business News.
Islandia-based Whitsons Culinary Group will provide the district’s food service for the 2014-15 school year at a cost of $853,550. The Utica-based firm of Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering P.C. was appointed as Lawrence’s mechanical engineers. Citing an ongoing personal relationship with Jack Eisenbach, Trustee Uri Kaufman recused himself from voting on the appointment.
Several tenure appointments and official hires were made, including Bill Moss, the high school’s math and science chairman, Margie O’Brien, the school’s English and social studies chairwoman and vocational teacher Lee Wolin.
Number Two School students now have not only teacher who grew up in Inwood, but a professional singer to guide them. Brian Villegas, who had been working at the school for the past four months, was officially hired as vocal teacher at the school he attended. Villegas graduated from Lawrence high School in 1995.
After working as a singer for several years, including being part of a national show that featured the songs of Frank Sinatra, Villegas now has his first teaching gig.
“I have a good idea of what the kids experience and can relate to them,” Villegas said, about teaching at the same school and in his native community. He now lives in Valley Stream.