Sewanhaka district residents discuss concerns for 2011-12

A crowd of nearly 40 attended the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education meeting on July 12 — the first for the 2011-12 school year, as well as for the district's new superintendent, Dr. Ralph Ferrie.

Following the board's reorganization of members and administrative duties, five district residents publicly spoke about their concerns for the 2011-12 school year, including Felix Proccaci, who discussed establishing more transparency within the district.

Procacci said that he presented a plan for transparency legislation to one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's legislative aides last week that would give New York residents a more objective source of information regarding how governments — including local school districts — operate. The majority of residents within local districts do not vote on school budgets, he explained, adding that he believes that many residents aren't fully aware of specific items within school budget proposals.

Procacci's plan includes requiring settled employee contracts for each local government entity to be posted on the worldwide web within seven days after they've been signed; implementing a website for posting budget information for towns, villages, schools and local districts; and requiring local governments to mail budget summaries to residents.

"If all discussion is done behind closed doors, how can residents effectively evaluate their leaders?" Procacci stated at the meeting. "Even without this legislation, there is nothing preventing the Sewanhaka school district from taking the lead on this issue."

In addition to Procacci's statement, Cammi Spillane, Inga Krevatas and Pat Friedman discussed their desire for the district to implement a five-school autism program — the district currently has one program, housed at Elmont Memorial. Friedman and Spillane also discussed their wish to have an ESL program in the district's five schools, rather than only at Carey.

To read more about residents' concerns regarding the Sewanhaka district's ESL and autism programs: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-SquareElmont-Herald-Newspaper/196028440411381

The next Sewanhaka district BOE meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m., at the Sewanhaka High School.