Schools

Ronkonkoma Chamber Interested In Sachem Advisory Board

Chamber secretary pens letter to Superintendent James Nolan.

The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce has expressed interest in sitting on the study advisory committee that is expected to be formed when the Sachem School District moves forward with its demographic and redistricting study this year. 

At last week's Board of Education meeting board trustees heard pitches from two organizations willing to conduct the study. Both organizations expressed the need for a Sachem committee that would present updates and make recommendations to the board when the time comes. There was some disagreement on the size of the proposed panel. Western Suffolk BOCES suggested no more than 30, while Applied Data Services would hold the members to about 12. Both entities agreed the committee should be made up of education professionals as well as members of the Sachem community.

To that end, Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce Secretary Kevin Hyms drafted a letter to Sachem Superintendent James Nolan asking that his organization as well as many other Sachem district groups be considered for the panel.

The letter to Nolan reads as follows:

Dear Jim,     

It has come to my attention that the Sachem Central School District is considering to establish a Sachem Study Advisory Committee to investigate future potential redistricting of our School District.   

As a Sachem Alum and active community member I have a number of concerns including the future decisions and consequences for our community and the composition of this new advisory committee.    

During 2011 and 2012 I had served as the representative from the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce on the Connetquot School District's Board of Education Advisory Committee which had made some important decisions on how to cut millions of dollars from their school budget while having   a minimal impact on their students.  This committee had approximately 30 members with representatives from the following:  Chambers of Commerce, Civic Associations, Veterans and other community organizations and a representative from each PTA.    

I would like to see Sachem form such an Advisory Committee composed of Representatives from:    The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce, Holbrook Chamber of Commerce, Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, other civics, Veterans organizations, and a PTA representative from each elementary school, middle school, high school, SEPTA and the Sachem PTA Council. 

Thank you very much for your consideration. 
                                                                                Sincerely,                                                                                
Kevin L. Hyms, M.B.A.

The Board of Education and Sachem administrators are conducting the study to determine the cost savings and logistics of possibly closing schools, should it need to slash more from the budget in 2014-15. 


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