By Dan Israeli
After hearing from members of Long Beach's own fact-finding committee, along with other speakers from the community, the school board convened briefly, and reached a decision that has appeared likely in recent weeks. "We have come to a positive decision, that [the board] is interested in having Island Park students come to Long Beach," said board President Franklin Alvarado. "We feel that it will be a good long-term decision for the both of us."
It will now be up to the Island Park Board of Education to decide whether it will send eighth-grade students in the district - which does not have a high school - to Long Beach or West Hempstead High School, where Island Park students have gone since 1967. The Island Park school board is likely, however, to give local families a choice of sending their freshmen to either school.
"It's our understanding that the [Island Park board] is leaning towards giving people a choice," said Alvarado. Diana Caracciolo, the Island Park school board president, attended Tuesday's meeting, and said that members of the community had expressed support for both high schools.
One option that appears to be fading is a referendum, in which Island Park residents would vote on a school. According to Caracciolo, the decision is supposed to be made by a school board. Members of the Long Beach board have already expressed their opposition to a public vote in Island Park, which, they say, would not reflect the collective opinion of Island Park as a whole.
At the meeting, a handful of members of the Long Beach fact-finding committee detailed their findings. The committee, led by Helen Cheliotes, assistant superintendent of curriculum, explored the mechanics of adding Island Park students to Long Beach High School, as well as any issues that could arise.
Carolyn Cuttler, chairwoman of the high school guidance department, visited the Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park, where she met with eighth-graders who could head to Long Beach next fall. "The students expressed their real feelings, involving their doubts, excitement and what changes to expect," Cuttler said. "They were very sincere and genuine about what the transition meant for them."
High School Principal Nick Restivo said the committee uncovered nothing that would discourage them from recommending the inclusion of all 87 incoming Island Park freshman at Long Beach High in the 2008-09 school year. Restivo added that the school would also consider welcoming the siblings of Island Park eighth-graders already attending West Hempstead High, a suggestion the school board said it had not yet considered, since it would involve re-estimating the number of incoming students.
Restivo suggested that if and when the addition of Island Park students begins, a system be put in place so that in the future, the high school would know exactly how many Island Park students would be coming in annually in order to set up the school's master schedule. He also said that if Island Park parents are given a choice of schools, it was the committee's wish that families make a four-year commitment to either Long Beach or West Hempstead, to avoid a "revolving door" of students switching from school to school.
Members of the board did not appear to believe such a commitment was enforceable, but Alvarado stressed that the plan was to ease Island Park students into Long Beach slowly but surely. "Given that there is a choice, we see it is a gradual integration, which is good," he said. "It will allow us to integrate the students in phases. As more students choose to come, the word will spread, and the number of students will grow. Our intent going into this is that this will be a long-term relationship."
Long Beach would receive $14,000 in tuition for each entering Island Park student, and some Island Park parents asked how important a consideration that was in the board's decision. Richard Schurin, an Island Park parent, wanted to make sure the revenue would be used for the high school. According to Alvarado, the money would provide the district with the perfect opportunity to enhance and expand high school programs.
Other board trustees noted that the increased enrollment could also help Long Beach High continue and expand its Advanced Placement program, which is currently at risk, given the school's dropping enrollment. "As enrollment declines, we are not going to be able fill certain A.P. courses," sad Trustee Roy Lester. "Island Park is such a wonderful resource for us in that respect."
The school board's open arms notwithstanding, some Long Beach residents are still upset about comments that have been made at recent Island Park Board of Education meetings. Darlene Tangney, co-president of the Long Beach PTA, said she was extremely disheartened by one vicious verbal attack on the school district and its students, which included accusations of drug use and violence. "We want to let our Island Park neighbors know that if you want to come to Long Beach, we will welcome you," she said. "We're here to welcome your children, not hurt them."
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