East Meadow school board lauds students, unveils new policy

The next few meetings carry an added importance for the East Meadow Board of Education as it crafts a budget proposal with administration in time for the district vote in May. 

The auditorium at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center was filled with parents and students to open the Communications meeting on Feb. 17. The district, with East Meadow Kiwanis, honored the “Terrific Kids” of Woodland and Clarke Middle Schools. 

Students who win this honor are selected because of their academic achievements and/or citizenship. The recipients were named for the months of December, January and February. Each recipient was presented with a certificate of achievement and a bumper sticker, sponsored by Kiwanis. Kiwanis First Vice President Mitchell Allen, Kiwanis Second Vice President Debbie Kirsh, Board President Brian O’Flaherty and Superintendent Louis DeAngelo presented the awards.  

New meeting policy in effect

The school board has adopted an amended policy for Communications meetings. 

Prior to delivering remarks, residents wishing to speak are now required to state their full name, district residency status, home address, organization he or she may be representing and topic of discussion. According to the policy, comments must be made in accordance with time constraints established at the onset of the meeting. The comments, the policy says, must be addressed to the school board and must relate to school matters. 

Issues involving personnel, students, legal and collective bargaining matters will not be addressed at communication sessions, according to the policy. Inquiries for those issues should be addressed to the appropriate school official, the policy says. 

In addition, as per the original policy, speakers are still required to fill out the blue card before they go to the podium. 

The amended policy was adopted at the board’s Feb. 3 work session. 

Stephen Shore to speak at EMHS

Judy Shiechel of the East Meadow’s Special Education Resource Center and Library, invited the community to its event on April 6 in the East Meadow High School auditorium. The guest speaker is Stephen Shore, Ed.D, a professor at Adelphi University and author of several published works on Autism and Asberger Syndrome. Shore, an inspirational and informative speaker, is diagnosed with Asberger Syndrome.

He will speak at two sessions on Wednesday, April 6, at 3:45 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by sending an email to speced@eastmeadow.k12.ny.us with your name, the event (Stephen Shore), Session (3:45 p.m. or 7 p.m.) and the number of people attending.

Tickets available for Founders Day

The East Meadow PTA Council honors several leaders in the school community at its annual Founders Day Gala Dinner, on Monday, March 21 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The 2011 Founders Day honorees are Sue Caramante and Brian O’Flaherty for their years of service to the PTA and the community. Each PTA unit recognizes honorees as well. 

The goal of the dinner is to raise funds to provide scholarships for graduating seniors from East Meadow and W.T. Clarke High Schools. Tickets are $45 and include a cocktail hour, salad, main course and dessert. To purchase tickets, contact your local PTA unit or call Debbie Hillman at (516) 826-2488.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the East Meadow Board of Education will be held on Thursday, March 3. The board will meet for a work session at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., the meeting will shift to the auditorium for a budget input session. Residents are invited to comment on the 2011-12 school budget proposal. All meetings are held at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center located at 718 The Plain Road in Salisbury.