Sachem Board of Education News & Notes

During Wednesday's Sachem Central School District Board of Education work session,  was appointed as the new head football coach at Sachem High School East.

The board also agreed it would hold a special meeting on Feb. 14 at 6:30 a.m. for a vote of the BOCES election resulting from the unexpired term of the position previously held by Andrew Wittman, Jr.

Notable action items

-The school board approved the donation of $1,100 from the Lake Grove Lions Club to purchase Wal-Mart gift cards in the amount of $25. A total of 44 gift cards will be sent to various schools and given out to families in need by nurses and social workers.

-The board approved a change order for Valco, Inc. at Samoset Middle School. The original contract of just over $300,000 will be decreased by $10,000. According to the district, it elected to get a credit from the contractor to not install the face brick on a chimney at the school and stabilize and tarp the chimney until the project could be rebid at a later date with a new scope of work.

-The district has hired LJR Transportation and Mapping for $8,000. This fee includes one black and white laminated district map for $2,600 with an option of additional mounted maps for $250, as well as 100 offset prints of updated maps ($4,200) and a digital version of updated map to be used on the homepage of the district's website ($800). An Excel file of the updated street directory will be provided for free.

-The board approved the purchase of AIS math and reading intervention kits, teacher resources and staff development training from Sussman Sales for $20,159. 32. According to the district, this will be paid for from the Federal Funds grant and elementary and secondary supply budget codes.

Recognitions

Three students from Sachem North were recognized for their success with the Model United Nations program. Cristen McGrath earned second place honors representing France in a mock World Health Organization debate, Dylan Cowit took second for Ireland in the European Union and Peter Amato was third in the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, while representing the United States. 

"They are a pleasure to work with," said Dr. Georgia Afxendiou, the Model UN advisor at North. "They grow not only as students, but world citizens."



Lynwood Elementary School first grader Kyle Wasson stole the show after reading his winning essay on why his community is important. Wasson was one of four students who won the "Take a Long Island Duck to School Contest." He brought Ray Navarrette to school Dec. 21. "We are so proud of Kyle for expressing his feelings about his community through his writing," said Lynwood principal Danielle DeLorenzo.

Sachem Patch will be writing a full-length story on Wasson in the next week.

Presentations

Pam Bowman, the social studies chair at Seneca Middle School, spoke about the benefits of Stratologica, an Internet based program that uses maps, and charts which come alive to implement an interactive learning tool in and out of the classroom. "This transitions us to 21st Century learning," she said. "On one map you have a view that comes to life."

Students have the ability to add video to maps, look at actual buildings near geographical locations and break a boundary of interdisciplinary studies not previously possible.

Next up: The next Board of Education meeting will be Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., a day earlier than the previously scheduled time slot.