Central District excels on Regents, AP exams

Before hearing a half-hour presentation on students’ many successes on New York State and Advanced Placement exams on Wednesday night, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education paused at its September meeting to honor Nina Lanci, who served on the Central board for seven years before losing in her re-election bid this past spring to newcomer John Ferrara.

Board trustees praised Lanci’s “commitment to the district.” “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with you on this Board of Education,” said Dr. Matthew Kuschner, the board president, upon presenting Lanci with a plaque.

Richard Rozakis, the district’s assistant superintendent for instruction, then delved into graduation rates and test scores. Rozakis noted that 97 percent of Bellmore-Merrick’s class of 2011 will attend college this fall. Some 98 percent of the class earned Regents diplomas, which require that students pass five Regents exams, and 75 percent of students received the Advanced Regents diploma distinction, which requires that students pass at least eight Regents exams.

This past year, Central students excelled on the foreign-language Regents. One hundred percent of students taking the French and Italian Regents passed the tests, and 95 percent of students taking the Spanish Regents passed. Rozakis noted, however, that the state will no longer offer Regents exams in foreign language, owing in large part, administrators said, to budget cuts.

More than 95 percent of Central District students taking the algebra, Living Environment and U.S. history Regents passed the tests, as well.

The percentage of students achieving “mastery level” on the Regents –– indicated by a score of 85 percent or better –– increased this year in the following subjects: English, algebra, geometry, French, Italian and Spanish.

“These are all wonderful things,” Rozakis said.