The community gathered for the Lynbrook Public Schools first board of education meeting of 2020 on Jan. 8 at Lynbrook High School. During the meeting, outstanding students and an upcoming retiree were recognized, and important district updates were shared with the public.
The board honored Lynbrook High School volleyball players Ami Carey and Kate Foley for making the All-Long Island girls volleyball team. Ami made the first team and Kate made the second team. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Melissa Burak praised the student-athletes and the girls volleyball team for always bringing the Lynbrook community together with their exciting games.
Dr. Burak also commended the Lynbrook High School Student Government Association for their involvement in the Rock and Wrap It Up program. She received a phone call from a volunteer who praised the Lynbrook students for donating hundreds of coats and volunteering to wrap gifts for families in need during the holiday season.
“We are so proud of all the work that our kids did,” said Dr. Burak. “Our theme this year is A Community of Caring. The actions of the SGA really proved that on behalf of the Lynbrook Public Schools.”
In addition, the board approved the retirement of Patricia Maurin, monitor at Marion Street Elementary School. She has served the Marion Street community for 14 and a half years. The board thanked Mrs. Maurin for her commitment and service to the district.
Two representatives from Northwell Health were present at the meeting to answer any last-minute questions that the board members had about their urgent care model. The district has debated partnering with Northwell Health since the summer, and after much deliberation and careful considerations, officially voted to not move forward at this time with the partnership.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Burak reminded the community that April is Census Awareness Month. She encouraged everyone to fill out their census packets once they receive them. The government makes their decisions on funding based on population in the district’s boundaries and everyone should be counted for. Dr. Burak also provided an update on snow closures. At the last board of education meeting, she reported that if one or more snow days occur this year, the day would need to be made up to meet New York State’s required number of instructional hours. Since then, she was informed that if the governor declares that there is a state of emergency due to inclement weather, the day would not need to be made up.
Dr. Gerard Beleckas, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, provided a curriculum update about the technology courses at the secondary level. The sixth grade technology students are using Scratch programming which teaches them how to develop their own video games. In seventh grade, students are working on manufacturing projects. They learned about the Industrial Revolution and how goods and services were produced before and after. The students created birdhouse projects using an assembly line process and during the unit they learned that some of the eighth grade students could not afford yearbooks. To help their peers, the seventh graders built birdhouses, the studio art students painted them and the yearbook club facilitated a fundraiser to raise money for eighth graders who could not afford yearbooks. At Lynbrook High School, students are utilizing the 3D printer to make special stylus pens that they can use in their classrooms to help them brainstorm during their other design projects.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Paul Lynch, assistant superintendent for finance, operations, and information systems, provided a capital projects update. He reminded the community that at the last board of education meeting the board rejected all bids for the Waverly Park elevator and the air conditioning at West End and Marion Street elementary schools. The rebid opening was held on Jan. 9 in the Atlantic Avenue board room. The bid opening for the high school project will be held on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. in the Atlantic Avenue board room.