The Board of Education held its first business meeting of 2019 on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The meeting commenced with the presentation of certificates by Superintendent of School Dr. Joseph Giani and Board of Education President Cheryl A. Felice to student-athletes, student-musicians and coaches who recently received prestigious awards. Bellport High School students Alyssa Mantione and Samuel Hampson were recognized for having received the Suffolk Zone Award for exemplary scholastic ability, physical education performance and leadership qualities. Additionally, Grace Minikel, Jaelyn Conquest, DJ Trent and Ka'Shaun Parrish were recognized for being named All-County Athletes in their individual sports. Coaches Ellen Hoffman and Larry Auth were also congratulated for having been named League IV JV Coach of the Year and League IV Coach of the Year, respectively. Mia Grossman, Erin Kelly and Tyler Zapata received recognition for being named alternates in the New York State School Music Association All-State Music festival, held in December at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. In addition, Mia, Erin, Katelyn Maddalena, Maya McCullough, Daniel Roach, Tyler and AutumnMargaret Walthers were congratulated for their participation in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County festival, held at Half Hollow Hills East High School on Nov. 17. For more information on these awards, please log onto the district’s website at www.southcountry.org. 

Dr. Giani asked that a discussion about a name change to the South Haven School be placed on the Jan. 23 BOE meeting agenda. The school will be the future location of the district pre-kindergarten program. Trustee Lisa DiSanto noted the district’s many musical opportunities and invited the community to attend the  middle school musical, to be held on Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. She also noted that the high school musical will be held on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9. Ms. Felice also invited the community to browse the artwork of the district’s talented artists hung in the administration building’s hallway.
 
In other news, the BOE adopted policy 6121 (Sexual Harassment in the Workplace) and formerly accepted a donation from the Brookhaven 7-Eleven to benefit the high school’s Center of Excellence.

The next board of education meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m.