by Scott Brinton
All on the board agreed that Littman would be sorely missed. Many Central officials say that Littman enabled the district to raise education standards by keeping the school system fiscally solvent, even during tough economic times, while also maintaining reasonable tax rates.
Littman, of New Hyde Park, started with the district as a budget associate. In 1978, he was promoted to school business administrator and in 1984, to assistant superintendent.
Remembering Mr. Rooney
The Central High School Board of Education paused for a moment of silence during last week's board meeting to remember James Rooney, a trustee who died in January after serving on the board for more than 24 years.
Alyse Middendorf, the Central board president, said Mr. Rooney's death was a "tremendous loss" for the school district and the community. Middendorf said that Mr. Rooney showed a "seriousness of purpose" and a "commitment to the future" when it came to children's education. She also said, "We will all miss his leadership."
Charles Reinhardt, of North Bellmore, was appointed to fill Mr. Rooney's post as the Central board vice president. "This really isn't pleasurable for me," said Reinhardt, who worked closely with Mr. Rooney on the Central and North Bellmore boards over the years. Dan DeLilla, of North Bellmore, was named to the board to fill Mr. Rooney's loss.
Mr. Rooney, who also served on the North Bellmore Elementary School Board, was a retired, highly decorated New York City police officer.
Budget bite
Dr. Thomas Caramore, the Central High School District superintendent, said the district expected a rough ride this year while developing its 2003-04 budget.
Caramore said Gov. George Pataki's proposed state budget would cut the Central District's state aid by $4 million, which represents 25 percent of the school system's total annual aid package. The cut was the highest in Nassau County and the second-largest on Long Island, Caramore said.
The superintendent said he sees a state-aid cut as a tax shift from the state to the local level, as any aid cut would likely have to be made up by a school property-tax increase.
Caramore said the district now is relying on local state legislative representatives to bring in greater aid dollars. "Our legislators assure us they will do everything in their power to restore that [$4 million] cut," the superintendent said.
Caramore said he would address the aid cut further during the Central District's first budget hearing of 2003, which was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12, after press time.
Nine-period school day?
Parent Helen Mekelburg, whose son is now a 10th-grader at Calhoun High School in North Merrick, questioned the Central High School District Board about the possibility of adding a ninth period to the day at Calhoun, Mepham and Kennedy high schools.
The three schools now run on an eight-period day. Mekelburg said that puts Central students at a disadvantage compared with their peers in many surrounding districts, with nine-period days, and the Hewlett School District, with its 11-period day.
Having nine periods, Mekelburg said, would enable Central students to take more elective courses and better prepare them for college.
Dr. Thomas Caramore, the Central superintendent, said the district was preparing a report about the nine-period day, which it would make public during the Feb. 12 budget hearing. He added, though, that creating a ninth period isn't a simple proposition. The district must negotiate with teachers to do so.
Mekelburg asked whether periods could be refigured by a matter of minutes to develop a ninth period. Caramore said in response, "You have to understand, if you go over [the current school day] by one minute, you have to negotiate that."
Spirit of volunteerism
Kennedy High School juniors Dermot Hoyne, left, and David Safarik were recently honored as Prudential Spirit of Community Award winners for their community-service work.
Hoyne, a second-time winner of the honor, received the Prudential Achievement Award for his "outstanding commitment to others" and his volunteerism, particularly with the Association for the Help of Retarded Children. As Kennedy's top volunteer, Hoyne will have his Prudential application forwarded to the state level for further recognition.
Safarik was named a Prudential Merit Award winner for his volunteer service at the Sands Point Preserve on the North Shore, where he coordinated a cleanup and restoration project.
