Schools

Live Blog: Sachem Central School District Board of Education Meeting

Sachem Patch takes live coverage to a new level.

Wednesday evening, Sachem Patch tried something new with its live coverage, blogging the Sachem Central School District's Board of Education meeting.

With the highly popular success of our Sachem football live in-game blogs, we've assessed a need for people to follow things around Sachem from the comfort of their homes. 

Location: Administrative Annex, Samoset Middle School

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Time: Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Opening minutes: It's a big night tonight. Sachem will appoint its newest board trustee - Michael Isernia. From what I've heard, he's a solid fit for the job and has been involved with the budget committee in Sachem. Isernia replaces David Egloff, who resigned Oct. 20. Board president Robert Scavo said the trustees who were being considered must have been part of a school board advisory committee  to get the position. "This was a very difficult decision for the board," Scavo said. "I'd like to thank all the candidates." Isernia attended Sachem and graduated in 1981. He has been on the budget advisory committee for the last two years. Prior to the budget advisory committee, he was a secretary of the capital projects committee. Scavo said seven members of the community applied for the open position.

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

7:38 p.m.: The board of education is honoring some outstanding students. More than 1.9 million students took the PSAT exam and entered the National Merit Scholarship program. At Sachem, Ryan Owens (North), Thomas Schultz (East), Kelley Tobin (East), and Justin Panno (East) all are being commended for their academic success.

7:43: The Sachem Marching Band is showing video of their performance at the marching band field conference in Syracuse late last month. The annex here at Samoset is jam packed with members of the marching band and their parents. Brad Johnson from district office and George Macchio, the director of the marching band, are speaking to the board about their trip. 

7:49: Nearly the entire Marching Band crammed in for one picture. Impressive. Then again, they're used to being put into formation pretty quickly. Now the mass exodus from all parents and kids from the meeting. 

7:57: They are showing video of the marching band's performance at Syracuse. Mike Isernia asked his first question: how did Sachem do at the competition? They finished third, according to Macchio.

8:05: Now to the meat and potatoes of the meeting. The board is approving the regular agenda items. Personnel items have all been approved. Matt Wells, the principal of Cayuga Elementary School and a Sachem grad, received applause for receiving his tenure as an administrator in the district. He and his staff stood for recognition.

8:09: I will post photos of all the recognitions mentioned above later on.

8:13: Vincent Lopreto was just approved into the district's budget advisory committee. They also just approved all the winter sports head coaches in Sachem.

8:15: There are 24 approval items and too many to type out here, so check Sachem Patch later on at the bottom of this blog for a wrap up of key information.

8:20: Jose Cruz, an assistant principal at Sachem North, is addressing the board about SEA Program. "It has brought together some of our most motivated elementary students," he said. Students take courses on Saturday for seven sessions. It's held at Seneca. Cruz wants to incorporate it, "into more of an academic intervention program. We want to build a tutorial around it." They came up with the, "Go Fly a Kite Program," he said. There are over 100 kids in the district taking part in the program - it helps students meet proficiencies set forth by the state.

8:29: Little kids just spoke about their experiences in the SEA Program, as well as literacy instructors. Seems like a great program, though one little girl doesn't like working up early on Saturday's for it! "The kids really respond to the teachers and all the things that are offered to them," one instructor said.

8:37: There is a presentation about the transportation regarding students who live in Sachem, but attend parochial school. It costs over $100,000 annually. Bruce Singer, the assistant superintendent of business in Sachem, said the board has been very liberal in allowing students/parents to be taken care of in this matter. There is no directive from the state. Its the private school's responsibility to inform students of regulations. Sachem, however, emails all students attending private schools, applications for transportation.

8:45: The board is having a discussion of the financial matters surrounding transportation. With a tight financial crunch headed Sachem's way with the budget, board members are wondering about spending that much on transportation for students wanting to go outside the district, and/or spending more than the alloted amount. There are a little over 400 students who actually go outside of Sachem for school. About 70, the district just said, don't even notify the district of their transportation needs. 

8:57: Nothing substantial going on. The board has been discussing transportation still, all about students who go outside of Sachem. The overall theme is that many parents are late filing paperwork with Sachem in regards to getting transportation. No late requests can be denied, they said. It's no extra cost, but they're putting an extra cost in anticipation of people signing up late.

9:13: Still on the transportation talk. Interesting stat - about 65 students from the Sachem community attend St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington. "I think we're going about and beyond asking for information from the parents and schools," said board trustee Jim Laccaruba. "The deadlines are put in place for a reason."

9:29: Rory Manning is speaking about graduation times. It still seems to be a hot topic, even though it was voted on and approved for both High School East and North earlier in the year. Discussion is focused on the day of prom, which is the day before graduation.

9:38: Board trustee Mike Timo said he'd like to have both graduations on Saturday morning. That probably won't happen, as Superintendent James Nolan would want to attend both. They also usually have the same politicians at both graduations, so that would cause a problem. Scavo said the board will be looking for feedback on the dates from students.

9:42: Brad Johnson, the district's head of music, is presenting about area of responsibility. He said over the last five years, since he has been in the district, they have increased in music enrollment. There are just under 5,000 students in Sachem who perform in ensembles. Impressive, considering some districts aren't even close that number for their entire student body.

9:55: One trustee just proposed a great question. Why is the marching band not at football games? Johnson just said they need to meet a certain amount of competitions to qualify for states. They do go to homecoming games. "I don't know if they'll be able to improve upon that," Johnson said.

10:00: The North auditorium's curtain and lighting system just came up. They need to be replaced. Johnson said he has a quote done for the curtain and the lighting will be changed by Johnson Controls as part of a plan already approved.

10:02: The PTA Council is sponsoring a lecture by John Haligan at Sachem East for adults on the topic of bullying and teenage depression. It should be good. John gives a moving lecture. Sachem Patch will have coverage of this lecture.

10:06: With the governor possibly about to have a $300 million midyear cut to state education, Jim Laccaruba wants a discussion of the district's budget as a future discussion item. Isernia wants to talk about alternative sources of revenue.

10:10: That's it. Check Sachem Patch for a news & notes wrap up piece on the board meeting later tonight.


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