Sachem School Board of Education Meeting: Retiring Teachers Honored, Minor Issues Discussed

The Sachem Central School District's Board of Education meeting was filled with special recognitions Wednesday night at Samoset Middle School.

55 teachers will be retiring this year after many years of service to the district.

"You'll be sorely missed," Board member James LaCarruba told the departing educators. "Thank you."

Also receiving recognition were Waverly Elementary school teachers Marie McNair and Sue Hart for their dedication to the Randy Reader program, which will be retiring after 26 years of operation. The school held its final awards ceremony last week.

"I can't even express the way the Randy Reader program has affected our school," said Waverly Principal Susan Greiner. "It has become the heart and soul of our school."

North students Ruchi Shah and Garima Yadav were recognized for their performance at an Intel science competition last month and Sachem's Envirothon team was honored for winning its fifth straight Long Island title.

Notes & Quotes:

-The Board agreed to provide legal defense and indemnification for individual defendant Charles J. Murphy, former Superintendent of Sachem Schools, in the action entitled "Christine Aurecchione v. Sachem Central School District at Holbrook and Charles J. Murphy."

-Sachem High School East Principal Rory Manning addressed the Board concerning graduation ceremonies at High Schools East and North being pushed from Saturday morning to Friday night for the 2010-11 school year. Manning said students have been surveyed about the switch, but no substantial statistics were given out. Many Board members expressed concerns regarding the proximity to prom night. The Board said it will make a decision on this in the next month.

-At the next board meeting on June 29, the Board and administration will further discuss the bleacher situation at Samoset (see video for discussion).

Next up:

-The meeting on June 29 will be followed by another meeting Monday, July 12, also at 7:30 p.m.