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N E W SStories:
• Zero Percent Increase in the Tax Levy For news about great student accomplishments, click here to read "Points of Pride" Zero Percent Increase in the Tax LevyReserve Funds Will Be Used to Freeze Levy at 2009-10 LevelAUG 23 2010 — The Board of Education voted unanimously on August 17 to apply nearly $1.2 million from the district's reserve funds, as well as to increase its estimate of recovered funds by $400,000, in order to lower the increase in the tax levy to zero percent, thereby providing tax relief to local residents during this extended period of economic uncertainty. This is being accomplished despite drastic reductions in state support for the Roslyn Public Schools. The increase in the estimate of recovered funds is the result of successful litigation against the architect and construction manager from the 2000 Bond Project at the Roslyn Middle School. In addition to the appropriated fund balance of $2.4 million, the Board decided to use nearly $1.2 million of reserve funds to keep the tax levy at the same level as it was in 2009-10. At the time of the budget vote last May, the levy was projected to increase by two-thirds of one percent. Despite the fact that the tax levy will not increase, average annual property tax bills for individual homeowners are estimated to increase by an average of 0.65 percent, or about $83, resulting mainly from an increase by Nassau County in the proportion of the tax levy paid by homeowners (Class I) as compared to the other classes of property. However, the impact on individual property owners will vary. Residents are reminded that the school budget is the only portion of the property tax calculation that is controlled by the school district; changes in assessment, base proportions and other factors also have an impact on actual taxes paid.
Useful links:• For a more comprehensive explanation of the how property taxes are calculated, please see the article "Property Taxes" on this website. • To determine the change in property taxes on a particular home in 2010-11, please use the district's interactive Tax Calculator. Community Volunteers Wanted for Board CommitteesAUG 23 2010 — The Board of Education is seeking community volunteers to serve on three committees in 2010-11. The committees and qualifications for service are listed below. If you are a district resident and wish to participate, please contact Cathie Britt, District Clerk at cbritt@roslynschools.org by Monday, September 27, 2010 or call 801-5002 for more information.
Citizens Audit Advisory Committee Board Welcomes New Member and Elects Officers for 2010-11Ben-Levy and Saffron Will Continue as President and Vice President; Valauri Joins BoardJULY 19 2010 — The Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 15, when it swore in its newest member and elected officers for the new school year. Bruce G. Valauri, who was elected to the Board for the first time in May, took the oath of office. Stanley Stern was also sworn in as he was elected to a new three-year term in the spring. Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy and Cliff Saffron were unanimously elected by their fellow trustees as president and vice president for the second year.
Two New Principals for Roslyn's Elementary SchoolsNew School Leaders at East Hills and Harbor Hill; Science Chair Also AppointedJULY 1, 2010 — The Board of Education approved the appointment of two principals for Roslyn's elementary schools on July 1. Maureen Berman is the new principal at the Harbor Hill School, and Melissa Krieger is the new principal at the East Hills School.
Maureen Berman is already well known to the Harbor Hill family as the assistant principal since 1999. She had been a special education teacher in the Mineola and Valley Stream schools before coming to Roslyn, and also has certification in elementary education and reading. She is a graduate of Molloy College with a masters degree from Adelphi University and a professional diploma in educational administration from Long Island University. She is currently working towards her doctorate at LIU. Ms. Berman takes the place of Mary Liguori, who retired at the end of June.
Melissa Krieger comes to Roslyn from the Lawrence public schools, where she has been principal of Number Five School since 2004. Previously she was an elementary teacher in that district where she gained extensive experience in the area of literacy, working as a district literacy coach and developing reading and writing curricula. She holds bachelors and masters degrees from Hofstra University, with certification in reading and elementary education, and earned her administrative certification from Long Island University. Ms. Krieger replaces Allison Brown, who is assuming the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
"Roslyn is very fortunate to have two extremely capable educational leaders for East Hills and Harbor Hill," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Brenner. "Both Maureen and Melissa bring many years of valuable experience to their new positions, and I have every expectation that they will provide outstanding leadership for their schools." To fill the vacancy in the position of assistant principal at Harbor Hill, Mary E. Wood will move from the Heights School, where she is currently the assistant principal. The Board also appointed Thomas E. Lynch, Jr. as the new Science Chairperson. Currently, Mr. Lynch is Supervisor of Science K-12 in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich schools. He has taught physics and earth science in the Half Hollow Hills, Northport and Valley Stream school districts. He is a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook, where he earned degrees in physics, planetary sciences and technological systems management.
Revised School Schedules Will Take Effect in SeptemberJULY 1, 2010 — The Board of Education approved an administrative proposal to change the school schedules for 2010-11. The new start and dismissal times will go into effect at the beginning of school in September. The main impetus for the change is the new contract with the district's teachers, which extends the elementary school day by 20 minutes. Additionally, there will be a later start time at the high school and an earlier start time at the middle school, as explained in Dr. Brenner's presentation to the Board on June 3. The change in the schedules is as follows:
The matter of school start times has been the subject of a lengthy review. Last fall, a district-wide survey and public forum elicited numerous comments and questions from parents at all levels. At that time, several options for new schedules were discussed, but none were implemented. The schedule that will go into effect in the fall is different from any of the options proposed at that time, as the extended school day in the elementary schools created a range of possibilities that was not previously available. "I feel very strongly that the change in time schedules will have an academic benefit for our students," says Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Brenner. "I greatly respect the many points of view that have been expressed on this issue, and rest assured they have been taken into account in this decision. In the end, I believe these modest changes will generate the maximum benefit with the least disruption for children and families." A New Home for Adult Education and Pupil Personnel ServicesLease of St. Mary's Facility Will Allow for Growth in Adult ProgramJULY 1, 2010 — The Roslyn Public Schools has entered into a lease agreement for the St. Mary's property adjacent to Roslyn High School. The facility will provide a new, expansive home for Roslyn Adult Continuing Education and a new office for Pupil Personnel Services. The building became available with the departure of AHRC at the end of 2009. The facility will provide opportunities for Adult Education to grow, and in particular will enable the re-establishment of a more comprehensive day program. Day classes have been limited in recent years since Adult Education had to make way for expanding high school programs. The facility will also house a new office for Pupil Personnel Services, providing easier access for families that need to visit that busy department. This includes parents registering new students for school. There are a number of other advantages to the lease: the departure of Adult Education and Pupil Personnel Services will create additional space for programs in the high school; the school district will have full use of the athletic field on the St. Mary's property; there is a large number of much-needed additional parking spaces; and some of the district's buses will be able to park next door, thereby freeing even more parking on the high school's very crowded campus. Dr. Brenner gave a presentation on June 3 explaining the benefits of the lease. More information for Adult Education participants will appear in the Fall 2010 catalog, which will be published at the end of the summer. Retirees Honored for ServiceJUN 30, 2010 — The Board of Education and Central Administration recognize members of the staff who retired during the 2009-10 school year for their service to the community and its children, and wish them good health and fulfillment in their retirement. The retirees are:
Annmarie "Andy" Andreas, Administration, Administrative Assistant Voters Pass School Budget for 2010-11Stern and Valauri Elected; Capital Project Referendum and Library Vote Also ApprovedMAY 18, 2010 — Roslyn voters approved the school budget for 2010-11 on May 18. The vote was 1,237 in favor and 566 opposed. The $95,816,235 budget carries a spending increase of 1.12 percent and a projected tax levy increase of 0.66 percent. Four candidates ran for two at-large seats on the Board of Education. Incumbent Stanley Stern was re-elected, and Bruce Valauri won a seat on the Board for the first time. The vote totals for the candidates were as follows: Stanley Stern: 916; Bruce Valauri: 899; Kim Hunter: 801; Elizabeth Kellogg: 504. Proposition 3, authorizing the Board of Education to transfer $3,000,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund for capital projects, was approved by a vote of 1,236 to 515. In 2007, voters authorized the Board of Education to establish a 10-year Capital Reserve Fund to address ongoing capital needs. The Bryant Library's 2010-11 budget was also approved.
How will changes in the school budget affect your property taxes? Figure it out using the Homeowners' Tax Calculator. Board Congratulates Staff Receiving TenureMAY 6, 2010 – The Roslyn Board of Education recognized the professional staff of the Roslyn Public Schools who were candidates for tenure in 2010. Family members were invited to share in the celebration at the Board's May 6 meeting. The following are the staff members with their tenure area and school where they are currently assigned:
ADMINISTRATORS: Unanimous Board Adopts Second Consecutive 1% BudgetTax Levy Will Increase 0.66%;
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Allison Brown
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MAR 22, 2010 –Allison Brown, the principal of the East Hills School, has been appointed as the district's Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, effective July 1 of this year. The appointment was approved by the Board of Education on March 18.
"Ms. Brown is a motivated, energetic educator who has a unique ability to inspire her colleagues and the teachers she works with," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Brenner following her appointment. "She is a leader who makes those around her better as professionals."
Dawn Cerrone
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Ms. Brown has been principal at East Hills since 2008. Among the initiatives for which she has provided leadership have been the implementation of the Columbia Writing Program and the school's "Writing Workshop", the Book of the Month reading program, the Standing Tall anti-bullying program and Bucket Fillers character development program. Previously, Ms. Brown was principal of the James H. Vernon Elementary School in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District. She also served as principal of the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in the same district from 2001 to 2007. Prior to that she taught in the Rockville Centre school district. Ms. Brown is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta with a BS in Elementary Education, and earned a master's degree in Special Education from Hofstra University. She will take the place of Dr. Frank Banta, who has served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction on an interim basis since the appointment of Dr. Brenner as superintendent at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year.
Dawn Cerrone has been appointed by the Board of Education as Roslyn's new Director of K-12 Physical Education, Interscholastic Athletics and Recreation. Ms. Cerrone is currently Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics for the Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district, where she has nearly 25 years of experience as a teacher, coach, adviser and administrator. She is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a master's degree from Hofstra University.
Ms. Cerrone will assume her new position on July 1, 2010, replacing Joanna Commander, who has served as Interim Director since the retirement of Dr. Mira Martincich at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
MAR 19, 2010 – After two years of collective bargaining, the Roslyn Board of Education and Roslyn Teachers Association have agreed to the terms of a new agreement. The four-year contract contains terms that will yield significant savings for local taxpayers, promote instructional progress and enhance collaboration among the district's education professionals.
Teachers have been working under the terms of the previously expired contract since the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. The new agreement covers the school years 2008-09 through 2011-12. The average salary schedule increase over the four years of the contract will be 1.525%, including a 0% increase in the upcoming 2010-11 school year. In addition, teachers will receive no step (longevity) increases until the middle of 2010-11. This has resulted in a reduction of $1 million in the proposed school budget for 2010-11.
"While this was certainly a lengthy and at times difficult negotiations process, it was also a collaborative one," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Brenner. "Both sides came to the table fully aware of the increased burden on the taxpayers and of the fiscal crisis that the state and nation are facing, and were prepared to make concessions in light of that reality. Both sides also focused intently on educational objectives. The agreement clearly represents an important step forward in the relationship between the Board of Education, administration and teachers."
Dr. Brenner emphasized that the zero percent increase in 2010-11 is a sign that both the Board of Education and the teachers association understand that the upcoming school year will likely be the most challenging one of the current recessionary period, and that taxpayers expect the district to take meaningful steps to control expenses.
Board of Education President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy said, "No one in the process lost sight of our primary objective, and that is to provide an excellent, quality educational environment, both for those who learn in it and those who teach in it, in a way that makes sense for our community in the current economic environment. I believe that we have accomplished our need-based goals in certain key areas both educationally and financially."
In addition to the salary savings achieved by the District, the following goals were accomplished as a result of the negotiations:
• The elementary school day will be lengthened by 20 minutes, adding 1 hour and 40 minutes of instructional time per week.
• A revised elementary schedule will allow greater flexibility and efficiency in the assignment of teachers.
• The teacher observation process was modified as sought by the district.
• The contract provision anchoring teachers’ salaries to third place in Nassau County was deleted from the agreement.
• Contributions for medical insurance will increase from the current 12% to 20% by the final year of the contract, which, when fully implemented, will save the district approximately $600,000 per year.
• The number of longevity steps was reduced for all newly hired teachers from 30 to 25.
• Sick leave allocation for new employees has been substantially reduced.
• Leave time provided for the adoption of a child was modified.
• Contributions to the Benefit Fund are frozen for three (3) years with a modest increase in year four.
• Teachers returning to teach in the Summer Academic Program will face an immediate 25% reduction in pay; new teachers in the program will be paid a lower starting salary, which will be capped after five years of working in the program. Projected savings for the district in 2010 will be $75,000.
A ratification vote was held by the teachers on March 17, and the Board of Education ratified the Memorandum of Agreement by a vote of 7-0 at its meeting on March 18.
Additional information about the Memorandum of Agreement:
• The Superintendent's letter to the community
• The Board President's statement
• The Superintendent's presentation at the March 18 Board of Education Meeting
OCT 16, 2008 – Beginning with the national election on November 4, voting will no longer take place in the Heights and Harbor Hill Elementary Schools. This long-sought change in polling places was the result of a concerted lobbying effort by school officials, Roslyn residents and other elected representatives.
For many years, the school district has been concerned about its ability to maintain security in the elementary schools when general and primary elections took place while school was in session. The practical inability to isolate voting from regular school activity raised deep concerns about the safety of children and staff. It also placed the district in direct contravention of New York State laws and regulations concerning school security that have been tightened over the years in response to violent incidents in schools.
"Our educational environment will not be disrupted and our children will be safer," said Board of Education Vice President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy, who chairs the Board's Legislative Affairs Committee. "We thank the Board of Elections and our elected representatives in particular Assemblyman Charles Lavine for recognizing the issues and helping to bring about this very important change."
Official notice has been sent by the Board of Elections to voters who are impacted by the changes. The Board of Elections has indicated that workers will be present to redirect anyone who may come to vote at the schools in error.
Please note the following changes in Town of North Hempstead Election Districts that impact the Roslyn elementary schools:
ED NH 13/16
Changed from HH School 3 GC Rd EH to Village Hall-Roslyn Harbor 500 Motts Cove Rd South, Roslyn Harbor
ED NH 13/4
13/5
13/6
Changed from HH School 3 GC Rd EH to East Hills Village Hall 209 Harbor Hill Road, East Hills
ED NH 13/3
16/97
16/98
Changed from Heights School Willow Street Roslyn Heights to Gayle Community Center 53 Orchard Street, Roslyn Heights
Roslyn High School will remain a polling place for general and primary elections. Voters should check the official notice from the Board of Elections to confirm their polling location.