001All right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our December meeting. If we can rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> First uh order of business, we're going to call a public hearing to order. and >> update the code >> for to update the code of conduct section 5131-R. Um and we're going to ask if there's any public comment on this um section right now. >> I think there are copies on the side. There are copies on the side. >> No comments on this. So, we're going to vote on this next time. Correct. >> No, you're going to vote on it tonight. >> Oh, it's
002a little different. Okay. So, we're going to take a vote to >> Not yet. It's in the regular regular agenda when we get to the action items. >> Okay. All right. So, now we're going to ask for an adjournment out of the public hearing. Um, so a motion to by Mary Keane, seconded by Steve. All in favor? I. So, now we are out of the public hearing and now we are going into our regular board meeting. Very, very exciting. Okay. Um, well, welcome everyone. We have a lot of nice things happening in the district, the holiday time. Um, and tonight though, we are celebrating uh Mr. Merrams and his retirement. We'll get to that in a moment. I just want to congratulate you on behalf of the board. I'm stealing Dr. Cineak's thunder for a
003second, but uh our first congratulations to you and we wish you the best of luck. Um, and also I'd like to acknowledge our vice president of the board, Mr. Ed Corona and all of his work that he did for doing the he put together the first annual Belmore America turkey trot on Thanksgiving >> I just at about had hundreds of uh hundreds of participants and it benefited the community cupboard >> 375 runners. >> Wow for >> 400 next year Ed. So we just want to say thank you. I'm going to turn it over tonight to uh Dr. Sak for her remarks. Thank you. >> Thank you Mrs. Ryan. Welcome to our December board of education meeting. A couple of announcements. Code of conduct is being revised to prohibit motorized bikes from our property. We're having
004a dirt bike issue mostly um and parents will be notified of this in January uh after the break uh in case any of our students receive a dirt bike for Christmas or Hanukkah. So, we would like to make sure for safety reasons all motorized bikes. Um, also I would like to introduce who's here this evening, our new supervisor of instructional technology, special area subjects and data reporting, Dr. Helen Canalopoulos. Please stand up and welcome. We're so excited that you're here. Welcome to our North Merrick family. Now, without further ado, we will be celebrating our own Mr. Merrams. Um, tonight's a big night. >> Wait, wait, wait. We have to do this. Mr. Merrams, you need to ride stand like you everyone else, >> right? I guess I should go over there. I will. I will
005go. I'm coming over. But, um, just so everyone's aware, if you don't know, haha, Mr. Merram's, uh, this evening, the board of education will be accepting Mr. Marram's resignation for the purposes for the purpose of retirement effective January 5th. Also this evening, uh the board of education will be appointing an interim principal to take over Old Mill Road effective January 5th. Communication will go out to faculty and staff tonight at 8:30 at Old Mill Road and tomorrow at FET and Camp Avenue. Families at Old Mill Road will be notified of all of this tomorrow morning via Parent Square at 9:00 am. So, I'm going to get up now and give it my best because you know Mr. Merrams puts quite a show on. So, here we go. Are you ready, Howie? >> Okay. >> I
006hope that microphone's working. who I said earlier. I wanted >> Okay, one out of two ain't bad. >> Come on over. Stand here. Good evening. It is both an honor and a privilege to be here tonight as we celebrate a truly remarkable educator, leader, and colleague, Mr. Howard Merrams. After more than 20 years as principal of Harold Defey School, Mr. Marrams is retiring from a role that he never treated as a job but as a true calling. For over two decades, Mr. Marrams has been the heart of Fyat. His presence has been felt in every hallway, every classroom, every cafeteria table, and at every single event, big or small. In a time when visibility in leadership is often talked about, but not always practiced, Mr. Merums lived it every single day. If something was happening
007at FET or in the district, you could count on two things. The students would be excited to be there and Mr. Marrams would be there. Mr. Marram's relationships with families have been nothing short of extraordinary. He is the kind of principal who knows not just the names of his students, but their stories. He knows their siblings, their parents, and sometimes even their pets. I've heard you talk about those pets. Families trust him because he takes the time to listen, to care, but most of all shows up. That trust is not easily earned. But Mr. Marrams built it year after year, interaction after interaction, one genuine connection at a time. Your leadership extended well beyond the school walls. Mr. Marrams has been a steadfast partner to our central office administration and a respected voice in the
008district. In every conversation, without exception, Mr. Marrams keeps students at the center. Whether discussing curriculum, safety, staffing, or budgets, he asks the same essential question. Is this what's best for our children? That simple but powerful focus had made him a model for principal leadership in education. Speaking of principal leadership, Mr. Marrams works with his principal colleagues and he centers that work around collaboration, wisdom, honesty, and encouragement. He sees leadership not as a title but as a responsibility to lift others up. and he has done that time and time again. The ripple effect of his mentorship will be felt across the district for many years to come. And of course, we cannot speak about you without recognizing the unwavering support you have provided to your teachers and your staff. He championed them, protected them, and celebrated
009them. He knows that when educators feel supported, students thrive. And he built a culture at FET where teachers felt empowered, valued, and respected. Harry, your dedication has shaped the lives of thousands of students. You have strengthened families, supported educators, and made our district better simply by being a part of it. We are grateful for your leadership, your compassion, your humor, and your calm, steady presence, especially in moments when it was needed the most. Tonight, we honor you not just for years of service, but the integrity and heart with which you served us. On behalf of the entire district, the board of education and the community, thank you for giving so much of yourself to Harold Def Fayet School and Old Mill Road and the North Mer School District. Thank you for leading with purpose, caring
010with depth, and always putting students first. We wish you a retirement filled with joy, good health, new adventures, and all the time in the world to enjoy the people and the passions that you love. Congratulations, Mr. Merrams. And thank you so MUCH OKAY, don't go away, Howie. I think the NMFA, we have the PAL professionals, we have the CSCA, everyone, a big ROUND OF APPLAUSE. MR. MARRAMS, I HOPE YOU CAN PROMISE us that you will still continue to dress up every Halloween as part of your retirement and send us pictures. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Hello. Hello. Okay. Well, let's see if I can get this correct. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's going to be a great day. We are here today to celebrate the remarkable career of a beloved figure in
011our district, Howie Merrams, principal of Harold D. Fyet School for the past 21 years and this year Old Mill Road. Howie is more than just a colleague. He is a respected friend, a mentor, and a true pillar of our educational community. While it is hard to imagine our district without him, we celebrate the incredible legacy he leaves behind. For over two decades, Howie's heart belonged to Harold Def. Fayet School. He loves his job, he loves his staff, and most of all, he loves his kids, watching them learn and grow. His commitment to education and his passion for the students well-being were evident evident in everything he did, including welcoming each one by name at the morning doors for arrival every morning. Howie's tenure was marked by a unique vibrant spirit that made FET school a
012truly special place. We will all cherish our memories of his theatrical off-the-cuff speeches that could make you laugh, cry, or think sometimes all at once. They were always genuine and straight from the heart. The famously long drawn out the morning announcement, a sound that has defined the start of the school day for thousands of students. watching him run down the halls like he was on roller skates. A blur of energy, always moving, always connecting with students and staff. Howie, you are one of a kind. Your dedication has shaped countless lives and built a foundation of excellence and warmth at the FET school. You've been wonderful colleague and a great friend. And we'll miss your energy and dedication. We will miss your elaborate Halloween costumes and the laughter you brought to the students when you dressed
013as a turkey for Thanksgiving gobbling around the hallways. Maybe you can join the turkey trot next year. Please join us in wishing Howie Merrams a long, happy, and welldeserved retirement. Thank you, Howie. We love you. That's his report. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Um and good luck to you, Mr. Marrams. All right. Now, back to the not so fun part. Uh, some board business. If if I can have an approval. Uh, motion to approve 5A through 5C as listed in the agenda. A motion by Will, second by Kathy. All in favor? I. Motion passes unanimously. And we're going to head to public comments for the first section. Agenda items only. If there are any public comments on agenda items tonight, um, there are none. So, we're going to We're going to continue. >>
014Um >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yes. Why don't Yes. Well, before we uh take our next motion for our board business, we'd like to again welcome the board. Welcomes Dr. Helen Kennalopoulos. Welcome. And uh also we welcome Dr. Dominic Palma who will be our uh interim uh principal. So we look forward to working with him. He's a staple in the Belmore uh community. So, we're going to pass that tonight as well. So, I'm going to ask for a motion to approve 7A through 7M. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Kathy, second by Will. All in favor? I. Motion passes unanimously. Um congratulations. Welcome. Um a motion to approve our personal actions report as listed. Uh motion to approve 8A by Will, seconded by Ed. All in favor? I. Motion passes unanimously. Motion to approve
0159A through 9 C. Our special services >> Motion by Mary. Seconded by Ed. >> All in favor? I. Motion passes unanimously. And we are on to the report of the committees. Uh Mr. Corona, uh if you could do a report on our high school comm high school committee report. Thank you. >> Absolutely. saw our last board of ed meeting was on December 3rd. Um, a couple of important uh people were recognized. Michaela Bowen who is a student uh is a semi- finalist in a Coca-Cola scholarship. It's a national competition and now she's in her second phase of that uh a teacher Brad Seedman of Kennedy High School was awarded the Long Island Hero for achievements to counterbullying. Uh we heard from our students. I'm just going to mention that our Calhoun rep is Cara Dobs.
016I'm not sure which elementary school she went to, but possibly she went to one of ours. Uh she noted that Calhoun Model UN just returned from a trip to Switzerland. Very exciting. Uh that the students were all very uh excited about that and it was a great learning experience. Calhoun also had a holiday improv event last Friday. Prep Academy, they're running a refreshment service for central office personnel and students. Uh the map uh class students continue to take educational trips and they went to a recent uh trip to see a play about the Holocaust and a surprise appearance after the show by the playright. Uh Kennedy has been collecting for veterans also solicited donations for the community cupboard from local supermarkets. Uh the CHAMP students travel to the middle schools to uh present their program.
017Champ is our culinary arts program at the Belma Central High School District and they presented to the upcoming eighth graders. Uh hopefully some of them will become part of that program. Uh students are also advocating for the advancement of Robbie's law to mandate that AEDs are at all county facilities. Meepum continued their tradition of battle of the classes and they also hosted the VEX robotics championship. Uh also uh followed was a consent agenda which we included a revision of our safety plan which had amendments that were required including updated cardiac emergency plans and also added training of personnel and availability of AEDs throughout the district. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. Um Miss Keen, our school committee relations PTA council report. >> PTAs continue to be awesome. Um, I'll start with SEPTA. Author Amy McCoy visited
018each of our buildings and discussed her Little Big Sister book, Sharing her Little Big Sister, excuse me, her Little Big Sister book, sharing a sibling perspective on autism. It was a big success and students were very engaged. SEPTA held their first open board meeting on Monday night, hoping to encourage new volunteers and board members for next year. Um, Old Mill Road. We enjoyed our first winter breakfast on Saturday. Big hit. Over a hundred people joined uh joined us along with Santa and the Grinch. Our fundraisers included the skateathon at United Skates and the Holiday Boutique last uh December 4th and 5th. FET reflections theme for this year is I belong. Awards will be presented at the January PTA meeting. For Black History Month in February, we are planning an assembly to pay tribute to important
019figures in black history. Math Olympians, Scratch Coding Club, Mindfulness Club, Drama Club, and Chess Club are all running smoothly. The RaiseRight gift card fundraiser is currently running. Our PTA receives a portion of the sales on each gift card sold. Our holiday boutique was December 5th. The winter breakfast was on the 6th. Both very successful. Families enjoyed a fun morning of activities, food, raffles, and a visit from Santa. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. and Camp Avenue carnival night was on November 20th. Students thoroughly enjoyed the event. Picture day retakes and capp and gown uh for K and sixth grade was November 18th. Tap room staff lunch was held on November 24th. The holiday boutique is scheduled for tomorrow, the 10th. Janu uh Journeys into Native American History Assembly is also scheduled for tomorrow.
020Science fair deadline sign up is December 16th. Parent meetings will be held on January 8th uh for the night to connect tomorrow night which we're going to hear about. Um Camp Avenue has a fundraiser at Panera. Harlem Globe Troder and Ringling Ringling Brothers ticket sales are ongoing. Um and Camp Avenue has locked in Malkees on August 16th for their auction that they held every other year. Sorry for all my mistakes tonight. I need water. >> All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. And thank you to our PTA, all of them. U Mr. Carter, our building and grounds report. No snow, so we're doing okay. >> Yeah, we're doing all right. We're doing >> and I feel the heat now, so that's good. >> Uh I'd like to congratulate Howie. I'm going to miss you.
021You know, he's one of the guys that was here when I first started, so it's bittersweet. And I want to welcome Helen. Nice to have another sweetmate in that office. It's good to have her. Um, so currently we're replacing the fuel oil tank monitoring systems. It's just a fancy computer that monitors our underground fuel oil tanks. It's required by law and ours were outdated, hard hard to get parts for. So we're in the process of replacing those. Um, very excited to announce that we'll be installing a turf field at Old Mill Road. Uh, we'll be working with Belmore Merrick Little League with the gracious donation of a second field. So that's very exciting. Uh we're and that's going to be a little bit of an easier job because it's kind of off the beaten path.
022We'll be able to do it during the school day or you know we don't have to wait for the summer break which is nice. Um we've been crushing work orders. The guys have been doing an amazing job. I mean we just had a the lights go out in the parking lot last night. They within 24 hours they've already got them operating again. And I just want to thank my crew for an amazing job. And then just all the holiday activities and the concerts that are coming up. It's a lot of fun this time of year. So, uh, thank you all for your support and, uh, things are going pretty well. >> Great work by you and your team. Thank you. >> Ask Mr. Carter a question about the turf field. How long do you think
023it'll take and when do you think they'll be starting? >> Um, it's always weather dependent. It's not a it's not a huge job because the field exists. Um, I'm hoping it's like a two-month project, but if we're going to do it in the winter, we might break ground, you know, when if if the weather allows, but it might come to a halt if you get a big snowstorm. But the kids can still go outside. They'll just >> absolutely we'll just fence off that small area which is nice. Unlike camp which was smack dab in the middle of everything that was a problem. >> Uh we'll put up safety fences. We're installing a gate on Merrick uh on I'm sorry on Metobrook >> uh side so we can come and go through there. We don't have
024to bother kids and and activities and be near the building. So it's going to be it should go fairly seamless but weather is always the the deciding factor in a project like that. I think the teachers and the kids will appreciate still being able to go outside. >> Yeah, that was a non-negotiable. >> Yeah, that Yeah. Yeah. Or else we would have had to punt till summer and you know that's >> and PE classes too. >> Everything will be fine. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's going to be great. >> Thank you, Mr. Carter, for uh mentioning the concert. We do have our winter concert Monday night 6 pm at Brookside. Looking forward to all of the wonderful music. Uh so come one, come all. Three tickets for the fifth graders, three tickets for the sixth graders,
025and we have a lottery for families that ask for additional tickets. Thank you. >> Thank you. U Miss Long, any communications? >> No communications. And board, any unfinished business? New business. Um public comments. Any public comments tonight on anything? Fair game. Anything. Okay. Uh okay. On that note, we wish you a very happy holiday, happy new year. Look forward to all the activities in the next few weeks and I'm going to ask for a motion to adjourn by Miss Keane, seconded by Mr. Nella. All in favor? I. Happy holidays and congratulations, Mr. Marrams. Happy holidays. >> Still record breaking no matter how you slice it.