MINUTES OF MEETING
Meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M.
All were welcomed including Dr. Shine, superintendent, and Lawrence Gross, President of the Board of Education.
President, Pam Fogel, made the following announcements: There will be a Great Neck Park District meeting on regarding the possible Park District use of the Waldbaum’s site on East Shore Road; Nan Kosins was thanked for her hard work on the Shared Decision Making Committee Dinner held on October 30, 2003 at the United States Merchant Marine Academy; President’s Council will be held on December 1, 2003 at 8:00 at Phipps.
Since the last UPTC meeting on September 25,2003 the following Policies have been adopted by the Board of Education:
Since the last UPTC meeting the following policies have had their Second Reading by the Board of Education:
The following School District Policies that received a First Reading since that last UPTC meeting:
Minutes from the September 24, 2003 meeting were approved.
Marge Fitoussi presented the UPTC Budget for 2003-2004 and was approved. It was noted by Marge Fitoussi and Pam Fogel that expenses for UPTC have increased and dues and not be raised from fifty cents per student in more than ten years. As a result, an increase in UPTC Dues is being considered. Marge also gave the following Financial Report. The opening balance of the checking account was $4320.10, Deposits were $3426.50 and Checks written were $6806.00, and the Ending Balance was $940.60. The Opening Balance for the Fleet Bank CD was $0.00, Deposits were $4000.00 and the Ending Balance was $4000.00.
Karen Lewkowitz gave a presentation on a new program that could help find missing children. Called the CHIP Program, it provides many ways of identifying children. In addition to fingerprinting, a video is made of all children so that even if a child’s appearance has been altered by an abductor, identification can be made by noting facial expressions. In addition each child bites on a wafer that then gives DNA and a scent from the saliva. This program is sponsored through the Masons and participation would not involve additional expense to the school district.
Lawrence Gross, President of the Board of Education, gave his views of parental involvement in the School District. He sees parental involvement as a benefit to the children in our schools. This is also where new leaders in the school district are developed. In addition, the discussion in public of school district policies is important, even though some issues are easier to approve than some of the more complicated and controversial ones. Parental involvement and public discussions also helps pass the annual school budget each year. Looking further ahead, Lawrence Gross mentioned that there should be School District participation in the Village Meetings and that there is a need for close contact with Albany and Washington concerning issues such as “Equality of Funding.”
Dr. Shine gave his report. The search for a new superintendent continues and additional candidates have been interviewed and Dr. Shine hopes that there will be a new superintendent this school year. He added that the new superintendent will need vision and be able to react to change. He expects there to be major changes in education in the state and in the country. Dr. Shine praised the members Board of Education for the moral tone they have created and emphasized how important this is for the school district.
The meeting than adjourned to committees.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Smith