Lawrence School District organizes for new school year

The hybrid model that students in New York state schools could be using this coming school year, a combination of in-person and distance learning, was in use for the July 14 Lawrence Board of Education organizational meeting as the trustees and district officials met physically in the high school cafeteria with some attendees and others could listen in remotely. All attendees were expected to wear facemasks at all times and be six-feet apart.

As board president Murray Forman said the same cast will reprise their roles as he soldiers on as the leader, now in his sixth three-year term and Dr. Asher Mansdorf, as the aide de camp vice president. Mansdorf is serving his seventh three-year term. The remaining trustees are Heshy Blachorsky, Abel Feldhamer, Michael Hatten, Dr. David Sussman and Tova Plaut.

With the upcoming school year presenting unprecedented obstacles to learning because of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, Forman told the Herald that the district is ready. “We are confident that no matter the challenges we will deliver the educational material necessary for our learners to meet their goals to get to the next grade or graduate,” he said. “We will continue our capital projects in the middle school  and we do believe that we’ll be in a position to start the FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]  project next summer.”

District voters approved a Building Capital Reserve Fund not to exceed $4 million in June. The purpose is to finance reconstruction, renovation and the equipment for infrastructure improvements, including air conditioning at the high school, classroom and cafeteria renovations at the middle school and parking and playground enhancements at the Lawrence Primary School. 

In 2019, Lawrence was awarded $14.397 million, mostly federal money, from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation projects after a major disaster. The program aims to reduce the loss of life and property that typically results from natural disasters.

Several matters of business are taken care of and noted at the organizational meeting including the district expenses for the 2020-21 school year that are more than $50,000. There are 14 of those ranging from Carolyn Dowling receiving $50,000 to be a technology consultant to the $8.030 million paid to the New York state employees’ health insurance.

Tel/Logic Inc. will be paid $590,000 for the private school textbooks and National Grid and PSEG-Long Island both receive $385,000 for their utility services. Network Solutions & Technology will be paid $380,000 for computer maintenance. The Valley Stream-based law firm of Minerva & D’Agostino was retained for legal services at a cost of $265,000.

Long Island Business News, the Nassau Herald and Newsday are the newspapers designated by the school district to print its legal notices.