Projected enrollment and staffing were on the table for the March 26 meeting of the Hicksville Board of Education.
Like many Long Island school districts, the Hicksville School District is facing declining enrollment. Brian Heyward, assistant superintendent for personnel of the Hicksville School District, reported that for the 2014-15 school year, there will be decreases in all of the schools. At the elementary school level, there is a reported decrease of 15 students. The middle school will see a drop of 57 students for the 2014-15 school year and the high school will report a decline of 23 enrolled students.
However, even though enrollment has declined, the district has called for an increase of one classroom teacher in order to keep the class sizes manageable.
Additionally, the Board of Education accepted a check for $500 from Mike Longo, president of the Hicksville American Soccer Club, and Irene Carlomusto, the organization’s travel director, for being so generous with playing locations throughout the winter.
“You have always pulled through for us and we would like to present you with this check. Thank you so much for being so generous to the kids in our community,” Longo said.
While he said he would love it if the donation went to the sports program, he told the board to feel free “to use it however you want it.”
Hicksville superintendent Maureen Bright complimented the organization for helping the children become great student athletes before they even enter the district’s sports programs.
“We, as a board, would like to thank you for all that you do for our kids,” Bright said.
In other board news:
• The board was asked to approve a high school student scholarship in memory of Coach Bob Hilsky. The scholarship is for $500 and was donated by the Hilsky family.
• The board extended the bid for Driver’s Education to East Meadow Driving School for the 2014-15 school year at no increase from the 2013-14 school year.
• The board approved the disposal of obsolete textbooks.
The Hicksville Board of Education will have a budget meeting on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the administration building. The next general meeting/ BOCES vote is April 23 at 8:30 p.m.
