Mineola Board of Ed Notebook: July 27

The  held their regular meeting on Thursday, July 27. Here’s a look at some of the things you may have missed.

Professional Deveopment

• The board held a brief discussion about the professional development plan for the teachers for the upcoming school year.
• The plan stems from feedback teachers and administrators submit to a survey done at end of the year.
• “The plan is generated from the comments,” Assistant Supt. for Curriculum and Instruction Patricia Burns said.
• Mineola has given the survey for the last 6 years, the primary purpose of which is to “build quality professional development across staff based on their needs,” according to Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler.
• The process begins in April when a 12 person committee made up of teachers and administrators come together to discuss “what went well” and what needs are for the next school year according to Burns. “This year because of Race to the Top we also have to look at... the mandates, basically from New York State,” she said, as well as an NWEA assessment as part of the plan.
• The changes would revolve around core curriculum and new annual performance review requirements which are being handed down from the state.
• The plan would be reworked based on what Burns learns on a trip to Albany.

Contracts

• A contract with Marion Care, Inc.  was approved to provide professional services for students for the 2011-12 school year. The board also approved a contract for instructional services with the Brookville Center for Children’s Services for the 2011-12 school year.
• The board authorized payments to instructors for the summer music program in the amount of $3,848.64 each to instructors Mark Bennett and Kristin Frazer.

Other Board News

• Andrea Paggi was appointed to the position of district clerk, succeeding Donna Martillo who has moved to the Hampton Street School.
• The board held a first reading of a new policy entitled “Fund Balance.”
• The district filed section 75 charges against three employees which were dated July 7 and 27. Employees are suspended without pay for 30 days pending determination of the charges.
• The board accepted the resignation of art teacher Trevlin Alexander, effective as of June 30.
• The following overnight field trips were approved: band camp: Aug. 15-20, Circle Lodge/ Camp Kinder Ring, Hopewell Junction, NY; Oct. 29-31, New York State Field Band Conference Marching Band Championships, Syracuse, NY.

The next meeting of the Mineola Board of Education will be on  at 7 p.m. at the .