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Schools

New Board Members Sworn in, Residents Express Concerns About Club Funding

Visitors also concerned with increased class sizes at Wednesday's Board of Education Meeting.

Newly elected Sachem Central School District Board of Education members Teri Ahearn and Dorothy Roberts and incumbent Christine Lampitelli were sworn in at the reorganizational meeting Wednesday evening at Samoset Middle School.

Board member Sal Tripi was elected and sworn in as vice president and president Robert Scavo was re-elected to the same position.

During the regular meeting that followed, many visitors addressed the board with concerns about the future of clubs and extra-curricular activities in the upcoming academic year.

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Several people associated with the Robotics team came forward, requesting that the club does not lose its funding, as its expenses can be high at times.

"We hear your concerns," Scavo told the visitors. "We're going to work on it."

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It was approved in the 2011-12 school budget that secondary schools will have the digression about which clubs and activities will be funded based on advice from building administrators. 

Also addressing the board was Ally Gruber, a student at Sachem High School North. Gruber spoke on behalf of all clubs about their importance to students, stressing that none should be cut at all.

"Clubs make us [students] who we are," she said. "Our students have so much talent and they should be able to express themselves."

Another issue several visitors were concerned about was the possible removal of a third grade teacher at Wenonah Elementary School, who was unnamed, which would reduce the number of teachers from four to three for about 80 students. With that possible cut, class sizes would increase to 27-29 students, an issue many of the visitors said they dealt with in 2008 and did not want their children to go through again.

Scavo assured all visitors that those possible increased class sizes, as well as cuts to clubs, are some of the board's main concerns this summer.

Notes and News

  • The PTSA at Samoset Middle School donated $2,200 to be used towards the purchase of 1,000 agenda books for Samoset students.
  • The board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. at its usual location in the Administrative Annex at Samoset.
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