Bellmore-Merrick Board of Ed. charts ahead for new school year

The Bellmore-Merrick Board of Education welcomed students and staff, new and returning, for the 2024-25 school year at its first board meeting of the school year on Sept. 4 — one day after classes were back in session.

“Yesterday, there were a lot of really proud parents dropping their kids off — our buildings are alive again,” Nancy Kaplan, president of the board said.

On the first day of classes, high schools across the district had leadership teams of older students welcome ninth grade students to  feel safe and comfortable, in addition to helping them meet new staff and teachers.

Superintendent Michael Harrington expressed his gratitude to the district’s educators and administrators for their work during the previous school year.

“I’m so grateful to be part of this community every day, which has so much gratitude and so much pride in the work that gets done here,” Harrington said.

Board members agreed this past year has been one of the best in the district’s history, marked by various academic and athletic achievements.

One of the district’s special accomplishments is its high graduation rate last school year. In Bellmore-Merrick, the graduation rate is at a remarkable 97 percent, exceeding the state average of 86 percent. The district said not counting students with significant learning challenges, the district’s graduation rate is over 99 percent. Of these graduates, 86 percent went on to pursue four-year degrees, eight percent for two-year degrees, and six percent went directly to employment or service academies, according to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Scott Bersin.

“It really was a terrific year last year,” Bersin said.

“When people look for what makes us a great district, they look for results, they look for scores, they look for opportunities for students, but really, all they have to look for are the leaders in this room,” Kaplan said.

Recently, the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance named the district’s athletic director, Eric Caballero, as the recipient of the Athletic Director of the Year Award. The award will be presented to Caballero at the NYS AHPERD Annual Conference happening in November.

“The way our coaches connect and treat kids is remarkable,” Harrington said of Caballero’s accomplishment. “There was not a better choice.” 

Students in John F. Kennedy High School with interest in computer science have plenty to look forward to — the school has new computer rooms and art rooms, which will be used as a part science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education.

Across town at Wellington C. Mepham High School, students took part in the third annual Senior Sunrise, where senior students wake up for a 6 a.m., and gather outdoors, enjoying bagels and hot chocolate in the field of their high school.

“It’s a really great way to kick off the year for our seniors,” Principal Anthony DeMartines said. “And, we have homecoming next week, so we’re going to ride this new-year energy right into Spirit Week.”

Safety is a priority for Merrick Avenue Middle School. Over the summer, the parking lot was renovated to improve safety by changing how school buses drop students off during the morning and pick them up at dismissal. The tennis courts were also repaired.

“If we could have made it safer during the summer, we did,” Kaplan said.

Grand Avenue Middle School are welcoming a new team name, which debuted over the summer, along with a bear mascot. The school will now compete under the name “Grand Avenue Grizzlies.”

“We’re in the process of completely rebranding the building,” Harrington said of Grand Avenue. “If you come by, you’ll see the grizzly everywhere, and there’s more places to come but the kids are totally embracing it. It’s awesome.”

There’s a lot in store this fall in Bellmore-Merrick schools, including homecoming celebrations and more. To learn more about upcoming events and see when the next board of education meet is, visit Bellmore-Merrick.k12.ny.us.