Latin will not be a dead language in the Mineola High School curriculum, according to Mineola school board President Artie Barnett.
Contrary to comments from Mineola Superintendent of Schools Michael Nagler, Barnett said at last Thursday night’s board meeting he was determined to keep the language alive.
“We’re not cutting Latin,” Barnett said.
Barnett’s comments followed an appeal from four high school students at the meeting who told board members the course should be continued.
At a board meeting of June 5, Nagler said he and Mineola High School principal Ed Escobar agreed that the school board should consider dropping the language from the curriculum if Latin teacher Gigi Foge leaves in two years, as Nagler said she might.
Nagler expressed doubts at the time of finding a capable replacement for Foge.
Nagler repeated those concerns on Thursday, but said it would not be because of a lack of trying.
“I’m not confident that we can find a replacement. But we’re committed to it,” Nagler said.
He said the high school will offer the first year Latin course next fall.
He has said a third year of Latin, completing the high school’s course sequence for the language, could be taken by students online if there is no Latin teacher in the high school.
“There’s really not an issue with it,” Nagler said last Thursday. “Hopefully we can find the right person to teach it.”
Asked about his apparent reversal after the meeting, Nagler said, “Nothing changed.”
Mineola High School senior Erin Talty led the students extolling their experiences in studying the ancient language .
“It’s one of the best classes I’ve ever taken,” Talty said.
Kayleigh DiPietranio said it was “definitely a very rewarding class,” adding that students who study Latin do better on their SATs.
“To get rid of Latin would be a huge mistake,” a third student said.
District resident Mary Goodfellow presented the board members with a petition that she said carried 300 signatures of students and parents calling for the Latin curriculum to continue.
She said her son Dylan “loved it” and became an ‘A’ student while studying language after struggling with Spanish.
Goodfellow referred to last week’s Williston Times story reporting comments made by Nagler and panned the idea of computer study of the language to complete a third year.
“This district will be going down a slippery slope if we start replacing teachers with computers,” Goodfellow said.
The Latin discussion followed testimonials from board trustees for the service outgoing Trustee Will Hornberger has given the district over the past six years.
Hornberger chose to not seek a third term on the board and will be replaced next month by educator Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion, who ran unopposed for Hornberger’s seat after he announced his decision.
“Will stepped up to do something and he did it,” Barnett said. “We are without question better off because of you.”
Hornberger was one of three board trustees, along with board Vice President Christine Napolitano and former trustee Terence Hale, who supported the controversial reconfiguration of the district that resulted in closing and leasing the Cross Street School and leasing the first floor of the Willis Avenue School.
“You’ve brought our community common sense and an uncommon sense of humor,” said board Trustee Patricia Navarro.
Referring to the fight for reconfiguration, an emotional Napolitano said, “Will never wavered in his opinion we were on the right track.”
She said Hornberger was known as a “numbers” guy, but said he was “much more than that” and “remained unruffled, steadfast and resolved in his commitment.”
Pausing to compose herself as she spoke, she concluded, “It hasn’t always been easy but it has been good.”
She then presented him with a bottle of Das Horn, suggesting he might take a drink of it on Thursday nights and think of his fellow board trustees.
Nagler said Hornberger has “the distinction of voting against my contract more times than any other board member,” but added he had become a friend over the years.
“I am positive had we not reconfigured, we would have lost many programs that we have,” Nagler said. “Your contribution will be felt when this chapter is written and for many chapters to come.”
“Everthing was true,” Hornberger responded, laughing.
But his tone became serious when he recalled that he originally ran for the school board to improve the district’s education programs, improve economic efficiency and contain union contract costs.
He thanked his fellow board trustees. And he said he doesn’t regret not voting for Nagler’s contract the first time, but praised the superintendent for his “passion for excellence.”
He credited his wife Theresa for her “unbending support” of his service on the board and closed with words directed to district students.
“You inspire me to be a lifelong learner and to exhibit strength of character and contribute to a global society,” he said with emotion.
He received a standing ovation from his fellow trustees and all members of the audience at the meeting.
“I’m very proud of you. It was always about the children and the taxpayers,” his wife Theresa later said.
