001in so many ways in in such positive manner. And if I had to pick two role models, they would be role models for all our kids to follow. I'm not going to give it away. I'm going to have Mr. Schaefer uh talk about them. And then following that, we will have our retirees that will we will be honoring. So without further ado, I'd like to call Mr. Shaver up to talk about our validator. Okay. Good evening. I am honored to first speak about the 2025 Valdictorian Timmy Poland, [Applause] whose achievements and character truly set him apart. Timmy is not only a top scholar with an outstanding GPA of 106.3, but also also a compassionate and humble leader who inspires those around him. Timmyy's academic record speaks volumes. He excels in challenging AP and college level
002courses. In total, Timmy has taken nine AP classes and five dual enrollment courses. He is among the first students in our school's history to to earn the prestigious AP capstone diploma and has earned both the New York State seal of civic readiness and the seal of biiteracy. What makes him truly remarkable is his eagerness to deepen understanding through insightful questions that enrich classroom discussions. He consistently demonstrates intellectual curiosity and a strong work ethic that drives su his success. His leadership is equally impressive. Timmy has been president of his class for three years after having served as vice president in the ninth grade. And just an aside, we were trying to figure out if there's ever been a validictorian who was also the class president who would have to make two speeches at graduation, but he
003has willingly allowed his co-president and vice president to speak so he doesn't have to do two. He leads multiple organizations with dedication as captain of the cross country team, president of the national honor society, key club, student council, and the construction team, president of all of those. He has been a member of the student superintendent student advisory council for the fa past two years and has used this platform to make recommendations for improvement for our school and community. Through these roles, he demonstrates the leadership style as thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in active listening. Beyond leadership, Timmy dedicates himself to mentoring younger students, working with the student leadership club and the unified basketball team to foster inclusivity and support students with different needs. Despite his many commitments, Timmy Tim Timmy balances school, extracurriculars, and a part-time
004job at his family's restaurant with remarkable time management and discipline. He is a shining example of how dedication and kindness can go hand in hand. Timmy is a student who excels academically and leads with heart. We are confident that he will continue to make a positive impact wherever he goes. We wish him all the best as he heads to Ha University in the fall where he will be studying accounting. Congratulations. [Applause] Next, I am honored to speak about Joey Lou, the 2025 ERHS saludiatoran, having attained a GPA of 104.4. [Applause] Anyone that knows Joey will attest to the fact that she is driven, disciplined, and a remarkable individual. Joey's academic achievements are outstanding. Her excellent grades, impressive regions in AP exam scores highlight her commitment to academic excellence. In total, Joey has taken nine AP
005classes, and four dual enrollment classes. Plus, she challenged the AP China Chinese test, a course that she was not enrolled in. She has earned the seal of biiteracy in both Spanish and Chinese and the seal of civic readiness acknowledging her dedication to community engagement and real world application of skills. Joey approaches challenges with a solutionoriented mindset, a deep intellectual curiosity which makes her stand out among her peers. While her academic success is impressive, it is Joey's dedication to leadership, community, service, and professional responsibility that truly make her exceptional. Despite the rigorous demands of her coursework, Joey has consistently balanced working six to seven days a week at her family's restaurant throughout high school. Even still, she has made meaningful contributions through her participation extracurricular activities. She served as vice president of National Honor Society, helping
006to organize meaningful service projects that benefit the school and community. She participated in rock rivalry quizbowl and construction and contributed to the senior yearbook. In athletics, Joey p played bad mitten for which she was awarded teammate of the year by her peers. Additionally, she managed lighting and technical support for the district musical. What sets Joey apart is not just her intellect or work ethic, but her values of sacrifice, responsibility, and maturity behind her years. She continuously reflects on her experiences to grow both as a student and as an individual. Jo is a passionate, hard-working, and thoughtful student who has been a valuable member of the class of 2025. She will be taking the next steps by attending Bingmpington University in the fall. Excellent choice if I may say so where she'll be studying mathematics. Congratulations.
007Go Bearcats. [Applause] There she [Applause] Just mind you, your speeches are due in less than two weeks. So, get cracking. Okay. Now, it is my absolute privilege to speak on behalf of the legendary Scott Gerkin. [Applause] If there ever was East Rockaway royalty, Scott would wear the crown and the throne would be his. Now, I'm I am admittedly the last leg of the well-deserved Girkin farewell tour, which began in the fall at a pregame tribute by the varsity football team, continued through last month's teacher spotlight and news day, and Friday's ERTA celebration of his career. So, I hope that I can do his illustrious career at ERHS justice. Scott has spent 38 plus years at East Rockaway Junior Senior High School. He has taught science 7, forensics, physical science, earth science, living environment, anatomy and
008physiology, EMT, chem foundations. I think I got most of it and probably more. Scott's importance as the primary seventh grade science teacher in re recent years, however, cannot be understated. He is responsible for not only laying the groundwork for the regent's exam in eighth grade, but at a more basic level for exposing students to daily secondary level science instruction for the first time. He fosters an environment where students understand how to learn and study science like they have never before. He creates a love for science among students that stays with them throughout their time at ERHS. And I think we see that the number of our students that go in to advanced level science classes by the time they graduate is evident. Senior Isabella Dunzo said, "Mr. Gerkin is a teacher who makes even the
009science hater love the subject. Cliche, I know, but it's true. Throughout my seventh grade year, when I had him as a teacher, the highlight of my day was fourth period science with Mr. Gerkin. He could make any topic interesting and entertaining with his witty remarks, oneliners, and so I've been told dad jokes. But Scott's influence has gone beyond the classroom. He has not only coached softball and football, but has been an integral part of two successful athletic programs here at the high school. He has been a great adviser, has supervised set construction for the musical, was in integral part of stand construction for Rock Rivalry, and so much more. He has simply done it all. In seven years as principal, Scott is probably the only teacher, no offense to anyone else, that I have never
010heard a bad word about. I have never seen him without a smile. I have rarely seen him without a student by his side. Words like mentor, inspiration, and irreplace irreplaceable are often thrown around. But when we are talking about Scott, those aptly apply. Although we are sad to see Scott go, we are beyond thrilled for the opportunities that retirement will present. Once a rock, always a rock has never rang more true. And the sub application is awaiting your signature. No, not a joke. All the best and congratulations. [Applause] Who's waiting? I now pass the mic to Mr. Beex Bixhorn. [Music] Oh, yeah. All right. Well, good evening everyone. Um, it really is an honor to be here tonight and talk about two staff members from Rama Avenue who are retiring this evening. And I am
011fortunate enough to not only be the principal to work with them, but I work with both of these staff members as teachers. and I've gotten to know them over a long time. It's an honor to be here speaking first about M Miss Victoria Longworth. For the past 20 years, Victoria has been an asset to the Rama Avenue School. She's taken on many roles, including teaching assistant, reading interventionist, club advisor, and recess supervisor. But what never changes is her dedication to our students, and her deep love for helping them succeed. I had the personal pleasure of sharing a classroom with Victoria years ago when I was the math specialist. From the very beginning, I was struck by her calm presence, her incredible ability to manage students, and her talent of providing excellent, explicit instruction. I learned
012a lot sharing a classroom with her, and I know that I wasn't the only one. Victoria is a master at helping children learn to read, and she does it with skill, care, and patience. She builds strong, lasting relationships with her students and staff, and her professionalism, preparedness, and commitment to always putting kids first has never wavered. As the role of teaching assistant has evolved over the years, Victoria has adapted with grace, taking on new responsibilities, embracing new challenges, and always modeling strength. Whether guiding our chess club, supporting our newscasters, or keeping things safe and fun at re recess, she has brought the best to every role. Victoria, your legacy is one of excellence, compassion, and impact. You are deeply respected and admired, and you will be dearly missed. As you begin this new chapter, we
013hope you enjoy every moment. Spending time with your husband and two daughters and son-in-law, traveling, discovering new restaurants and new food, relaxing at the beach, and of course, enjoying your husband's cooking. On behalf of the entire Ray Avenue community, thank you for everything. We wish you a joyful, fulfilling, and well-deserved retirement. Congratulations. [Applause] It's a privilege to speak today about someone who has made a lasting impact on the RAM Avenue community for over the past 15 years. Miss Terry Owen. [Applause] Terry has been a consistent source of kindness, patience, and support for our students and staff. Whether working as a one-to-one aid, supporting students in inclusion classrooms, or assisting in a self-contained room, Terry has always brought her whole heart to the role. No matter the setting, her priority has always been the same, to
014support students, keep them safe both physically and emotionally, and create a learning environment where all children feel feel valued and cared for. What truly sets Terry apart is her deep compassion and respect for every single student she works with. She treats each child with dignity and kindness. And in doing so, she models exactly the kind of person we all hope our students grow up to be. She is more than a support staff member. She is a role model, a trusted adult, and a source of calm. Terry's commitment to RAM Avenue extends beyond the classroom. She has generously volunteered her time to help run clubs like the Garden Club and Sports Club, sharing her passion with students in meaningful and lasting ways. Her love of sports and physical education shines through daily, especially at recess, where
015she takes the lead in making sure all students are included, active, and having fun. I also had the pleasure of working alongside Terry when I taught sixth grade math at RAM. I'll never forget the look on the students faces when she walked into the room. Immediate smiles. They knew Terry was someone they could rely on, someone who truly cared about them, and someone who would be there to help, support, and encourage them. Terry, your impact at RAM will not be forgotten. On behalf of all of us, we wish you the very best in retirement, enjoying time with your husband and son, relaxing in upstate New York, attending NASCAR races, spending time in the garden, and taking long, peaceful walks. You've earned every minute. Congratulations and thank you. [Applause] All right, I'd like to invite Miss
016Kelly to the podium. Good evening everyone. This evening not only marks the closing of a chapter of extraordinary educators but celebrates individuals who have made a deep and lasting impact on our school community. I have the pleasure of speaking for Mr. James O'Driscoll, our school counselor for Center Avenue, RAM Avenue, and has spent time in the high school. [Applause] It's not easy to sum up the contributions of someone like Jim in just a few words, and that's because what he has offered our students, our staff, and our school over the years is immeasurable. Jim has served as our school counselor, but that title doesn't quite capture all that he has been to us. He has been a guide, a listener, and often the voice of reason. He has been the trusted adult that students of
017all ages could turn to. Whether they were in kindergarten just learning how to name their emotions or in high school navigating the complexities of adolescence, he has seen students through joy and heartbreak help them make sense of the world around them and shown them what it means to be kind, resilient, and true to themselves. Jim, your ability to connect with every student, no matter their background, their needs, or their story, has been nothing short of remarkable. You never looked at a child and saw a problem. You always saw a person, someone with potential, someone worthy of care, attention, and support. And because of that, countless children felt seen, heard, and valued. often at times when they needed it the most. We often talk about creating a school environment that is rooted in compassion and acceptance.
018You didn't just talk about it, you lived it every day in the way you approached students and staff alike. You brought those values to life. You reminded us even on the busiest most chaotic days that the emotional well-being be excuse me the emotional well-being of our students comes first. Your work with the second step and ruler programs has helped transform how we teach social emotional learning. Through your lessons, students learned how to recognize and manage their feelings, how to solve problems peacefully, how to be better friends and classmates, and how to take care of their mental health. You gave them tools that they will carry long after they leave our school. Tools that will help them succeed not just academically, but as human beings. Beyond the classroom, Jim has been a pillar of support for
019the adults in this buildings as well. I can personally speak to the support he has given to me and I know Mr. Bixon would say the same. As administrators, we often had to make difficult decisions or navigate situations with no easy answers. But we knew that we can always turn to Jim for guidance. His experience, his instincts, and more than anything, his deep understanding of our students always helped us find a path forward that was thoughtful, respectful, and centered on what was best for kids. Whether it was a quiet word in the hallway, a quick check-in before a meeting, or a more serious conversation behind closed doors, Jim always knew what to say and when to say nothing at all. simply offering his presence and support. That is a rare gift and one we have
020all benefited from. Jim, your retirement is well-earned. But make no mistake, you'll be deeply missed. Your calm presence, your thoughtful advice, your way of bringing humor and perspective into even the most challenging situations. Your ability to help children believe in themselves and help adults see them more clearly. As you turn the page to this new chapter of your life, we hope it brings you everything you deserve. Time to rest, time to explore, especially in Paris and Maui, time with your family and friends, and time to enjoy all the things that may have had to wait while you were busy taking care of others. And know this, the lessons you've taught, the compassion you've shown, and the connections you've made will stay with us. You may be retiring from your role, but your impact will continue
021on in every student who learned how to be a little kinder, a little braver, and a little more themselves because of you. Thank you, Jim. [Applause] He unfortunately could not be with us tonight, but please give him a round of applause. So, one quick message before uh we break again before the board of education meeting. uh to to Timmy and Joey. I can't wait to see with Bingington and Hashra uh the things that you do there. I I'm so looking forward to that and I'm so looking forward to how you can help change this world because you guys have the potential to do that. And for our retirees, this is going to sound funny, but I hope you fail because I hope you come back because we need you and we will miss you. So,
022if you don't have a substitute application in by now, I know I worked on Mr. Girkin at the end of the year party to uh come back and sub. We'd welcome you with open arms. So, how about a nice round of applause for our retirees and our valiator. Okay. At this time, uh we'll take a quick break before a board of education meeting. If you hadn't get did not get a chance to get a cup of coffee or a quick piece of cake, we'll be starting in about five minutes. So, thank you everybody. Perfect. What's the song? Let's see how big just said she's getting ready on the way. She said she's on. You see that? I'm sorry. by last name. I can't run the meeting though. I have a massive headache. So, somebody else
023want to run. Okay, you're in. But Pete just texted getting ready. Be there in a few. I'll be there in 5. I told him to stay. So let him have his dinner. I think I can pretend. Is there like a script? Yes. Did your son enjoy Italy? Where was he? France. He went to Italy. He went to He went to Which son is it? Just get back today. I just um and then he went to that nervous good evening. Welcome. That's the real That's the real experience. All business if there's more comments we go next approval. We're going to put uh the work session, social meeting the regular meeting have a motion or in favor then this is just a not there's no motion I just read it you just read it corresponding just to
024read this all yeah this is just a summary the red one that you just [Music] don't have to read this no because this is like I bought And then you know to make the motion you said two minutes away motion you read everything that's I don't have to read them. Yes you do. Can I have a motion to create a Moren? We'll be here in two minutes. Can you accept the items? Okay. All right. We'll figure it out. They just read them. All right. Thank you. I just have a feeling this family's here to talk. So might be the pledge. Yeah, he's the pledge. Pete's here in two minutes. Get up. Standing out. Yeah, we got to get that young. Okay. Sorry. Oh, I dropped my girlfriend off. I I didn't know where it was.
025You should be such a nice dude. I'd rather go to Lagardia. I never thought I would say that. This is going in going back out and back in again. So, where is his thing? Here. I'm staying here just so I don't have the frame. Do you want this? You got your notes. Um Oh, I have papers. Is this on? Yes. Okay. So, how long did you have to school for? An hour and 20 minutes. Yeah, we did all the presentations we had to, you know, it's all right. I mean, how long presentation? Um, first one was about 35 minutes and then was about five minutes and then took a break. They retired people. Two cake cakes or one? Two cake. Two. I'm not gonna have anything to say. We actually Joe said, "Okay, I have
026I gota remember people." PTA PTA like they all came on stage. Yeah. Yeah. Retirement. No, after that it was about four retirements. That's why I [Music] Okay, thank you. I might just have to make it general. I told you not to come. Sorry guys. Okay. 8:22. Good evening everyone and welcome to the monthly meeting of the East Rockway Board of Education. I'd like to call this meeting to order at 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025. This time, can we stand for the pledge? I got a little thing. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, standing. Uh Logan, are you here? First of all, I just want to thank you guys all for your patience running behind today. Everyone [Music] [Applause] No, let him stand. Get a picture. Okay, I'll do that. He's ready to go. Whenever you're
027ready. I'll help you. Ready? Yeah. Come here. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Applause] Take a picture. There we go. Take a picture of mommy. [Applause] Uh, you can go back. If he wants to go back, you can go back. We're going to say something about Logan quickly. Uh Logan is currently in Mr. Drumy's kindergarten class and is the last of his family to come to Ray Avenue. His siblings include Madison, Jack, and Charlotte. Madison is the first to graduate this school year. Miss Drum says she was extremely lucky to get the last one. She raves about Logan and the sweet and smart student he is. He comes to school
028each day excited and eager to learn. Logan is a kind friend and so loved by his classmates. He is thriving across all subject areas and is a fluent reader and writer heading into the first grade. He is always raising his hand to participate and is a wonderful helper to all his teachers. We're extremely proud of his hard work this year and looking forward to continuing watching him grow at RAM Avenue. Congratulations, Logan, and well done. Awesome job, Ty Logan. Great job, Logan. Uh, at this time, uh, new business, Mr. Damaso. Yes, indeed. Okay, great. Okay, for new business, um, last year, uh, a law came about where we needed to add a student member to the board of education. It's called new student exeicial member. Um, so this was uh decreed in the spring and
029this year um, we had a student go through a lengthy process. The high school team uh had an application process and a committee interview. So, we will be having that student uh join us at our reorganization meeting on July 8th. We will not make the announcement yet, but we will make the announcement uh before uh she comes to the board. So, we just want to update the community on that. Uh also, um we had a meeting regarding the new student personnel electronic devices. The policy committee met on June 4th to discuss this new required policy. Uh if you're not familiar, Governor Hokll uh decided to put a ban on all cell phones. Um and this will go into effect this coming school year. Uh we had great discussion uh with the policy committee and we
030created a master draft in which we shared with numerous stakeholders on Monday, June 9th. Uh that was members of the super PTA. Representatives from the SSAC uh students, administrators were all present at the discussion. This policy is up for reviewing pending adoption on this agenda and will be posted on the district website. Uh the district, as I uh mentioned before, will have this policy in place for the 2526 school year. Uh in addition uh to the budget passing um we added uh some safety updates. I believe I mentioned at our last work session uh that we're very excited. We work with Alarus and have a representative uh by the name of Tom Donnu who works with the school district uh twice a week. We will be adding an additional day for that. We are hoping
031uh that it can be Tom. Uh but we leave um you know security is utmost importance. So we are adding extra security and thank you to the community because that was part of our budget presentation. And last but not least, I have some donations that I'd like to thank. Uh uh some sponsors for uh funds for the senior scholarships, the East Rockway clerical team. Uh they'll be creating the ethic award, Center Avenue Mutual Respect Award, respectively. It was $400 and $150. The Elk Scholarship for two seniors involved in outside classroom community service, that's $250 scholarship. of the community chest. Uh $3,000 for supporting the high school seniors in need. Uh the donations, thank you for the Center Avenue PTA, $24082 for classroom supplies. Uh that's Miss Betain's class and parents of the class of 2026,
032$1,500 to benefit the extra classroom student activities account for the class of 2025. And uh that that's it for new business. All right. uh old business. So, I'd like to just talk uh quickly uh an update on the energy performance uh contract. It's already in uh already in the makings. Uh there have been some updates uh with our lighting in the buildings. Uh they will be working through June and through the summer to not only update the lighting in every single classroom and workspace, they'll be uh reinsulating the building to create a more efficient uh environment. and they will in addition to that uh they will be replacing the boiler at Mar at RM Avenue. Uh so that's part of the uh energy performance contract that was voted on uh last year. So I want
033to thank the community for that and just give a quick update. And last but not least, uh the Koopa restoration. So uh bids were collected. We are going to be selecting a vendor which is on the agenda tonight. We're excited about that. Uh the Koopa to me is not only symbolic of the school district but symbolic of the community. So we're excited to see uh some changes for that. Uh the work will be most likely starting uh by the end of the month with some supplies and then uh throughout the summer. So hopefully by the start of school year or midseptember we will have a new Koopa and uh it will be a great representation of the school community. And that's it for all business. All right. Thank you. Um, at this time, are there
034any comments regarding tonight's agenda items? Okay. All right. Item G, approval of minutes. Are there any questions regarding the meeting minutes from the special meeting and work session on May 13th, the special meeting on May 20th, and the regular meeting on May 27th? Nope. No question. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes of agenda item 1G? Motion by Mrs. Doyle, second. Second by Mr. Lores. All in favor? I opposed abstain. Motion approved. Okay. Uh acknowledgement of monthly reports and correspondence. Um everyone received financial reports. Okay. And we received two emails. Okay. Next, uh, moving on to make a motion to accept and recclassify the $5,000 donation from the community chest as a single unrestricted donation to support the entire class of 2025 with senior year activities and to deposit the funds into
035the extra classroom activity activity fund under the class of 2025 club account for discretionary use by the district. Whereas, the donation is to be used at the district's discretion for senior year events, including but not limited to the senior trip, and is to be deposited in the extra classroom activity fund under the class of 2025 club account. Are there any questions from the board regarding this proposition 3A? No. No. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve agenda item 3A? Motion. Motion by Mr. Loris, second. Second by Mrs. Lteran. All in favor? I opposed abstain. Motion approved. Okay. Item 4 A, consent agenda. Can I have a motion to create a consent agenda with the following items? Recommendation of superintendent personnel schedules item 5A through F. Other items 6A through K. Approval of CSE and
036CPSC recommendations 7A and budget transfers 8A. Motion. Motion by Mrs. Lteran. Second. Second. Second by Mrs. Doyle. All in favor? Opposed to abstain. Motion approved. Now, can I have a motion to accept the items on the consent agenda? Motion. Motion by Mrs. Doyle. Second. Second by Mr. Lores. All in favor? Opposed to abstain. Motion approved. Okay. Next, policy matters. Um, we have six policies for review. Pending adoption. Policy 0115, student harassment and bullying prevention and intervention. Policy 2245, exeicio student member of the board. Policy 5110, attendance area. Policy 5605, student voter pre-registration and registration. Policy 8130, school safety plans and teams. and policy 5695 students and personal electronic devices and policies for review policy 8636 artificial intelligence. At this time I'd like to turn the meeting over to Mr. D. Tomaso for the superintendent. Great.
037Thank you Mr. McN. Uh in the area of achievement, teachers have been analyzing Ire data for the end of the year diagnostic and are using this information to provide targeted instruction not only for next year but in our uh summer boost program. Small group lessons are being delivered with a focus on priority standards in both reading math to support student growth and and success. Enterprise students proudly represented our school by competing in the Long Island Math Competition, showcasing their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Colleagues from the Huelet School District visited East Rockway High School to work with our Earth Science Department on developing curriculum and instructional shifts in the preparation for the major changes taking place in the Earth Science curriculum and regent exam for the 2526 school year. Uh thanks to Miss Forbes,
038she developed this partnership and um she had been working closely with Mr. Murray so this partnership can continue without interruption during the summer and fall and be handed over to the East Rockway uh science chairperson. Congratulations to Miss Emanuela Matthews for her selection as a participant in the summer STEM research training program at Brook Haven Laboratory. This is shorter and enhanced East Rockway science program. So, I really uh thank Mrs. Matthews uh for participating in that and I'm sure it will be benefiting our students and staff greatly. Uh Junior Xavier uh Haramo has been inducted into the Barry Tech chapter of the National Honor Society. Xavier is a construction electricity student at Boseis and has been excelling and representing East Rockway with distinction. Adam Kolicowski was accepted into the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for
039the gifted math students. He will be attending class at Stonyie Brook University starting this September. Uh based on their stellar work in social studies, class involvement in civic action projects, and dedication to the community service, 33 seniors will be receiving the seal of civic readiness this year. Uh that's a tremendous accompliment accomplishment and you saw the results of one of the projects today uh which was uh spearheaded by Mr. Poland's class. We are proud to announce that uh 24 graduating seniors at East Rockaway High School have earned the prestigious New York State seal of biiteracy. This is a remarkable accomplishment. Uh notably one of our seniors I think uh Mr. Schaefer highlighted has earned the seal in two languages, Spanish and Chinese, while two additional students recently decided to pursue the seal in a second
040language, Italian and Spanish, reflecting their impressive commitment uh to multilang languagism. And to honor their achievement, we will be hosting a uh a celebratory dinner where the students will be recognized and honored with their families. in the area of opportunity. Entrepreneur day at the elementary schools was today was very excited that uh News12 covered this event at Center Avenue. It was great to see so many excited parents uh uh students who are eager to sell their projects. If you haven't got uh if you did not get a chance, it'll be running on News12 today. So, it was a great great highlight for our students and a great great another highlight for our PBL projects. After talking to the fifth grade teachers, they were excited about, you know, converting that whole entrepreneur day to PBL projects
041for the students. Uh students uh broaden their learning beyond the classroom through several meaningful field trips uh including visits to Commerce Plaza, the Lighthouse, the Special Olympics, Tanglewood Preserve, the East Rockway Historical Society, and a local fishing trip. As of Thursday, June 5th, 73 students have registered for the summer boost program. very excited about that. Data meetings uh are taking place this week in the elementary schools which will determine the list of students who will be provided personal invitations to participate in the program and this is based on their I Ready performance scores. Uh at today's board meeting today we approved the hiring of eight staff members who will be teaching the summer boost program. This was a big push. We're excited about having our own staff teach the programs uh throughout the summer so
042we could work with them closely to make sure our students are getting what they need. Uh AP Calculus is ending the year strongly with research projects on recipes, famous mathematicians and engineering topics. These projects allowed students to apply their knowledge of all the concepts they've learned this year. Students share their expertise um using maximization and derivatives and demonstrated how these concepts apply to cooking, poker, and acceleration of a sports car. I don't know that upper level math is tough, but that sounds like some fun. In the area of innovation, students across grade levels are engaging in creative digital learning, including lessons on how to use Canva to design presentation and visual projects. In fourth grade, students are combining storytelling and technology by creating their own graphic novels, demonstrating growth in both literacy and digital design.
043Magic School is leading AI for teachers. Schools in our schools loved by over 5 million teachers. Magic School provides 80 teachers tools and prevents teacher burnout by saving up to 10 hours per week. uh magic school uh is been initiated by Miss Mlelen and we are in the first phase which is training all our teachers giving them different uh professional development opportunities which will not only help them uh create lessons but will also help them uh provide in uh a quality instruction to our students. Uh in the area of connection, students took on leadership roles uh through the superintendent, student advisory council, surveying their classmates to advocate for new clubs, expanded reset options, and updated classroom rewards. I know they have been meeting with the building administrators to make sure uh that their requests um
044that their requests are being put into motion. So, I'm excited about that. I'm excited for the students who uh participated in that. I'm happy to say we'll be expanding it somewhat next year, adding a few more students and uh it's really great to get, you know, a bird's eye view from what the students really want. Uh STEM night was held on May 29th and was a huge success. Students in sixth grade through 12th grade in multiple disciplines, which is math, technology, and science had projects and activities showcased that night. It also included uh opportunities to fly drones in the small gym. uh science research all presentations took place that night uh as well. We are proud uh opportunity entrepreneur day as of and I think that's it. That's it for our superintendent report. Thank you.
045All right. Thank you, Mr. D. Tomaso. Uh next item 11, good and welfare. Condolences to the Calibris, Degillio, and Evansson family on the passing of Christy Degillio, a former graduate of East Rockaway High School, class of 2001. Um, at this time, are there any public comments? People back there? Nobody in the back. All right. Um, board member comments. Yeah, I'll just say, uh, I want to congrats to all our new PTA members tonight and continuing PTA members. Congrats to the valatoran saludiatoran and all our retirees. I'd I'd like to ditto that. Uh congratulations to all the PTA members, existing and newcomers. Thank you for all your hard work. Um congratulations to the saludiatoran valictorian. Um thank you to um the pledge. That was uh it's always one of my favorite things. Um and I wish
046all the retirees um a happy retirement. Um, we will miss them and I hope they have a wonderful summer. Um, and to what everybody else said and the PTA members, yes, thank you very much. It's a very important um that people in the community participate in the education of our children and um, congratulations to the retirees. And yes, I do also hope that your uh substitute applications have been submitted. Are you done? I would also like to thank uh Don Poland for coming and doing his presentation today. And to everyone in this class, um that was a wonderful project. All right. Uh I first want to apologize for being late. They had a work function. I'm sorry people had to wait. Um and I echo everything you guys said as I was walking in. Mr.
047Gerkin was walking out, so I got to give him a big hug. I I can't imagine East Rockaway without Mr. Girkin, but it's it's going to have to be, guys. I gave him a big hug, and it was nice to see him. So, uh, that's it. Um, this concludes tonight's board meeting. Can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 p.m.? Motion by Mrs. Doyle. Second. Second by Mr. Lores. All in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion approved. Good night everyone. Good night. Good night.