The April 23 Board of Education meeting began with an update regarding the inter-municipal agreement between the district and the Town of Oyster Bay. On April 17, Superintendent Lucille F. Iconis and Deputy Superintendent, Alan Adcock, met with town officials and were notified that all capital budget projects were on a temporary hold. When pressed for how long the hold would be for, town officials could not say. Iconis was advised that any concerned community member should contact Mr. Hal Maier directly.
Back in November, the Town Hall meeting unveiled a plan for approximately $4 million worth of improvements to the Berner Athletic Fields, which included a multi purpose turf field, bleachers, comfort station, and rubberized running track. In exchange, the district would deed to the town approximately three acres of land at the Carman Road School. Leslie Dowell, a community resident expressed her disappointment that the deal was on hold.
“It appeared to be a win-win for both TOBAY and the Massapequa School District. A few residents even thought that this was already a done deal,” she said. “I hope that they will continue to work in finding a mutually satisfactory resolution in this case, as they have with other school districts within our town.”
Iconis believes there will be funds available from the passed October Bond to make the improvements to the running track, which is a priority. However, Iconis stated that the district would be unable to replicate the plans projected by town officials.
The Superintendent reported that 58 percent of grade 3-8 students opted out of taking the ELA assessments, which were administered last week. As of the second day of the grade 3-8 Math Assessment, 61 percent of students have opted out. Most of the students opting out were concentrated at Berner Middle School. Many parents have asked the superintendent about the local NWEA Assessment the district uses, to which she reported that the district began using NWEA in 2009, well before it 
was linked to the teacher’s evaluations.
The short 45 minute online assessments in grades K-8 are given three times a year. They provide teachers immediate results to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their students, which in turn allows them to adjust lessons accordingly. Parents have opted out of these assessments because they are linked to a teacher’s evaluation but Iconis feels these tests are extremely important for individualizing a students program. She explained that the district has piloted a program linked to these NWEA assessments called Compass Learning with promising results. Compass Learning takes the results of the NWEAs and creates a personalized/tailored program for each child that focuses on strengthening their weaknesses. Unfortunately, without the NWEA results the district cannot use Compass Learning optimally for our students.
“This is a valuable tool for us and your children that addresses those skills to make them better math and reading learners and the kids love it,” she said.
Mrs. Castelli, Executive Director for Special Education, reported on the districts Special Education Program. The new Commencement Credentials for special education students include the Career Development & Occupational Studies Certificate (CDOS) and Skills Achievement Certificate (SACC). These new credentials have required the district to refine the secondary transition team and process. The team which includes: a special education supervisor, guidance counselor, transition consultant, CSE chairperson, psychologist, parent and child meet to develop an individual plan that focuses on improving both the academic and functional achievement of the student for a smooth transition into life after high school.
At Berner Middle School, the Practical Assessment Exploration System Lab (PAES Lab) was instituted. This is a simulated work environment lab in the school setting that trains students for various kinds of employment as well as independent living skills. Students assume the role of employees and their teachers are their work supervisors where highly structured work procedures are followed to accustom the students to the feel of real work.
The Career Exploration Program provides students an opportunity to gain employment experience at job sites throughout the community with support staff. Students enrolled in this program will complete 216 hours of work based learning to earn the CDOS Credential. Some of our Community partnerships include: Waldbaums, Pet Vet, Modells, Walgreens, Massapequa Library, Massapequa Reform Nursery School, Massapequa Bowl, Toys”R”Us, and MHS Cafeteria.
The Board of Education unanimously adopted the 2015/2016 Budget.
There is a 0 percent increase in next year’s budget with all services and programs intact. Streamlined pupil transportation, lower oil/gas/electric rates and usage and most importantly, much lower pension contribution rates which have saved the district $3.5 million are the main reasons cited for this great news. The Budget Hearing will be held in the Baldwin Auditorium on May 7, and the Budget vote will be held on May 19.
The Chairperson/Supervisors (Unit IV) Contract was accepted unanimously as well.
The contract will run from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018. The provisions of the contract include a 10 percent increase over the four years, which includes increment. New employees will stay on salary Step One for a total of three years, two additional workdays in the summer for a total of 12 summer working days, and a retirement rate of $164 per day for a maximum of 216 days. In addition, the district is offering a one-year only local retirement incentive for all Unit Four personnel. It is contingent upon at least four members retiring and will pay out $240 per day for a maximum of 215 days.
