Can you explain the Capital Reserve Proposition I will be asked to vote on this Tuesday, one more time?
Proposition #2 on the ballot asks the voter to approve the establishment of a capital reserve fund. Simply stated, a capital reserve fund is essentially a savings account where school districts can plan for necessary building renovations and infrastructure needs. The establishment of a capital reserve fund would allow the district to “deposit” additional savings or revenues in the fund without costing taxpayers additional money.
The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee and the Financial Advisory Committee have recommended the establishment of a capital reserve fund as one element of a thought out approach for financing capital projects. This proposition would allow the district to save up to $3 million over a five year period to pay for needed capital improvements such as roof replacements, drainage structures and masonry reconstruction without incurring interest and associated borrowing fees.
A capital reserve fund, such as the district is asking you to vote on, is the only mechanism New York State allows for a school district to save for capital projects. (For a more detailed description go to our website at www.ewsdonline.org and see explanation in our Budget Newsletter, by clicking in the NewsBox > 13-14 Budget Information/Budget Newsletter.)
Committee Expertise
As mentioned above, in reference to the CFAC and the FAC, the Board of Education has five citizen advisory committees, Audit, Capital Facilities Advisory, Community Relations, Educational Advisory and Financial Advisory, whose members provide their knowledge and expertise to the Board of Education on issues significant to District planning and operation.
A highlight of coming to the East Williston School District as superintendent has been the opportunity to become acquainted with the vast level of expertise that these committees lend to district planning.
For example, this past week the Audit Committee met with the External Auditors to review our 2013 audit timeline and 2013 internal control reports. As do all the Advisory Committees, the Audit Committee meets periodically throughout the school year. They review audit reports on finances, as well as internal controls and make recommendations to the Board of Education, as indicated. Members of the 2012-13 Audit Committee are: Patrick Gillespie, Alan Goldstein, Michael Rosenberg and Vincent J. Vincenzo.
Congratulation to our National Merit Scholarship Winner
Wheatley senior Lambert Chu was named a 2013 National Merit Scholarship Winner this month. The National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
All finalists competed for these awards. To select scholarship winners, a committee of educators appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
Congratulation Lambert!
Parenting Article from New York Times
There was an article in the Sunday Review section of last weekend’s New York Times that I found interesting and you might too. It talked about how certain forms of help can dilute the recipients’ sense of accountability for their own success. The article was entitled “When Helping Hurts” and you can find it at HYPERLINK “https://owa.ewsdonline.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=6uK8YggbrkmSrKbuKFKcZN3FkVzwJtAIuuPMEeqxJWXEeJTOib062Gt8dHQv4PL8mJxAj_Wudc4.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fnyti.ms%2f11qAfwW”http://nyti.ms/11qAfwW. While the article deals with older teens going off to college, the question it discusses, how we help our children achieve their goals without undermining their sense of personal accountability and their motivation to achieve them, has relevance for all ages.
Fine and Practical Arts Dinner
I recently had the pleasure of attending this event for the first time. This dinner recognizes those students who have gone above and beyond standard requirements by participating in arts related events. The students, who were selected to attend this dinner by their teachers and extra-curricular advisors, have made a deep commitment to “fine and performing art” activities that have enriched our school community to an immeasurable extent.
The activities acknowledged included the Wildcat, the Wheatley school newspaper, the Wheatley Theatre Company, the musical performing groups, Aurora, the Wheatley yearbook, Vintage, the Wheatley literary magazine, stage crew, student business groups and student artists.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Feeney pointed out that while often schools are evaluated solely by their academic performance and curriculum, last night’s dinner was an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the importance of the fine and practical arts to a school’s success as well. Last night’s dinner was another reminder to me of what I have found special at the East Williston School District. In addition to high academic standards, the district’s focus on activities such as the arts, athletics, and students’ social and emotional development, all work in tandem to support the development of the whole child. Each year at this dinner an award is given by a former Wheatley family (The Eve and Jerry Jerome Award) to an outstanding musical performer.
Congratulations to senior Matthew Black who received this award from Greg Jerome, a Jerome family member.
More Science Accolades …
As you know, I have been excited to share some of the successes of our High School Science Research program. In order to continue growing our students’ science successes, we know how important it is to lay a foundation in the early years.
Recently the Willets Road Science Olympiad team won the “New School” Award at the 2013 Western Long Island Regional Science Olympiad Competition as a result of being the top-performing first or second year program. With the Willets Road Science Olympiad Club having tripled in enrollment since its inception last year, the team is looking forward to fielding participants for even more events at the 2014 Olympiad and is aspiring to build on its strong effort this past year.
Our students participated in the following events: Anatomy, Boomilever, Crime Busters, Experimental Design, Forestry, Helicopters, Heredity, Metric Mastery, Mission Possible, Mousetrap Vehicle, Mystery Architecture, Rocks and Minerals, Rotor Egg Drop and Shock Value.
The National Science Olympiad website describes these competitions as follows, “[I]t functions much like a football or soccer team, requiring preparation, commitment, coaching and practice throughout the year… Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances.”
Congratulations Willets Road and Science Olympiad Club advisor Matt Gottlieb!
Working hard to plan for next year and beyond
Even as we finish up this busy time of the school year, our educational staff is busy making plans for our curriculum and instructional goals for the 2013-14 school year. These goals will keep us moving forward and address areas for further development. At the June 4 board of education work session, we will be sharing our draft instructional and curriculum goals for next year.
The Strategic Planning Committee will be meeting early next month to consider survey results and other district data in preparation for the sharing of draft District priorities for the next five years. These priorities will be discussed at the June 17 Board of Education Monthly Business Meeting.
More Math Accolades …
On May 3 some of our students competed at the Nassau County Math Tournament for elementary students (4th, 5th and 6th graders) which was held at SUNY Old Westbury. Congratulations to the North Side and Willets Road students who competed in both the individual and team competitions. Individual and team competitions included over 40 teams and over 250 students.
A special congratulation is extended to Olalekan Oshodi who placed 2nd overall in the 6th grade individual competition. Congratulation is also extended to North Side math teacher Lisa Minerva, president of the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association, which sponsored the competition.
Art Accolades …
Wheatley students have had an impressive school year with many gallery showings and awards. The most recent award was received by Wheatley senior Ryan Helfant, taking third place in U.S. Representative Steve Israel’s Congressional Art Competition.
You can see Ryan’s photograph on the district website at www.ewsdonline.org in the scrolling photographs. Juniors Lauren Miceli and Zach Wolf have their photographs showing (until June 3rd) at the Huntington Arts Gallery. You can see their work on the website as well. Junior Samantha Siegler and, once again, senior Ryan Helfant have been recognized by Photographer’s Forum Magazine for their photography. Ryan’s and Samantha’s photos will be part of the Best of College and High School Photography 2013 book, to be published in June 2013.
The New York State Art Teachers Association has given the Award of Excellence to Alexa Cooperstone and Hebah Hassan for their submission to the Art in the Heart Exhibit.
Cynthia Barbey, Samantha Siegler, Ariana Cohn, Amanda Iannone, Zach Wolff, Lauren Miceli, Ryan Helfant and Emily Giunta presented art portfolios at the New York State Art Teachers Associations’ Portfolio Project. The portfolio project is, “an authentic assessment tool that is based on The New York State Learning Standards and provides students with an opportunity to present portfolios of their work at regional adjudication sites.”
Golf Accolades …
The following members of the Wheatley Golf team have qualified for the Nassau County Championship Tournament beginning on May 21. Congratulations to Michael Braunstein, Ben Goldbaum, Teddy Lewis, Robbie Grieco, Aakash Jhaveri and Graham Turk. Good luck!
Save the Date: Carnival Fun!
On May 24, 25 and 26, the East Williston Education Foundation is hosting a professional carnival with rides, games and food on the grounds of Willets Road School. The Education Foundation is an organization whose primary goal is to provide financial support to enhance the excellent education programs for which the district has always been known.
So come one, come all and enjoy the carnival while supporting our schools.
Have a Good Weekend
Please e-mail me at kanase@ewsdonline.org or call 333-3782 with any questions, suggestions, and or any topics you would like to see for this newsletter.
