The board meeting opened with a moment of silence for Bellport High School student Lucia Paulina Tavera, who lost her lifelong battle with cancer. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani said that Lucia, who was new to the district, “had an immediate impact on all of those she came in contact, and possessed a positive, optimistic spirit, which was both contagious and heroic.”

The board decided to approve an omnibus agenda to allow for more discussion on the 2021-2022 proposed budget. The omnibus included an approval of an addendum to the District Emergency Response Plan. Also included were first readings of Board Policy 8260 (Title I Parent and Family Engagement), Board Policy 5741 (Drug and Alcohol Testing for Bus Drivers and Other Safety-Sensitive Employees) and Board Policy 5633 (Gender Neutral Restrooms). The District also thanked Independent Living Systems for a donation of office supplies.

During Dr. Giani’s Superintendent’s Report, he congratulated 72 seniors who were honored during the district’s annual Evening of Excellence, held on March 23 as well as the teachers selected by the students as being most inspiring and influential during their educational journey. These faculty included Tricia Bartkewicz, William Champlin, Henry Finnegan, Alan Kupferman, Leck Nhotsoubanh and Joseph Tortora.

Dr. Giani also announced that the district is forming two committees to review and examine remote teaching and learning for the 2021-2022 school year. The committees will be comprised of teachers and parents, one for elementary and one for secondary. Notices went out requesting volunteers to serve on the committees with a deadline of Friday, March 26.

In his report on COVID-19 Positive Reports, Dr. Giani said as of March 23 there were 92 faculty or staff and 256 students total who tested positive this school year. As of March 23, there are currently 4 faculty or staff and 65 students in quarantine due to close contact at school.

Dr. Giani, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services Christine Costa presented the fifth in a series of budget presentations on staffing. The analysis examined staffing in the areas of administration, elementary and secondary schools and non-instructional employees. Ms. Costa said the district has no plans to cut programs or their quality. At this time, however, the proposed budget does excess 29.2 positions totaling a reduction in the budget of $1.56 million. The current plan also privatizes 4 sections of the prekindergarten program at South Haven Early Childhood Center and includes an increase of 5.0 full-time contingent positions. The district is still working on closing a $14.9 million gap between revenues and expenses and is awaiting information from Albany and the federal government concerning funding. On April 7, 2021, the district will present a revenue and expense update, followed by the adoption of the district’s spending plan on April 21 and budget hearing on May 5. The budget vote and trustee election will be held on Tuesday, May 18. To review the district’s budget presentations, log on to the district’s website at www.southcountry.org and click onto the Board of Education tab.