By:By Jason Scheer
The Baldwin Educational Assembly, a community input organization that works with the board of education to research issues and make recommendations, held it's end-of-year general meeting on May 24.
The BEA, who split into four subcommittees this year, issued their final reports and recommendations for next year.
Joe Peskoff, representing the Budget Advisory Committee, said the committee has looked into finding alternative methods for reaching the poverty index. The poverty index is determined by how many students receive free or reduced price lunch and, the higher the index, the more funding a school district receives.
Baldwin does not have such a program and is not entitled to funding that other districts receive. Peskoff, poking fun at the state requirements, said, "we officially have a 0 percent index. Places on the north shore have a 10-12 percent poverty index and we all know we are much wealthier than [those who live on the] north shore."
Ed Cigna, assistant superintendent for business, explained that the Baldwin school district was built around a "neighborhood school concept," which called for building smaller schools rather than one large facility.
Thus, none of the elementary schools were constructed with cafeterias and for many years, students in the district simply went home for lunch. Because none of the elementary schools have a cafeteria, the district lacks a lunch program.
Peskoff said that, in the past, the BEA has explored ways around the lunch program requirements. The group even entertained the possibility of a lawsuit to challenge the state. This past year the group went in a different direction.
The BEA will explore the possibilities of a mobile lunch program, where a company is hired to provide hot meals directly to each of the schools every day. That would satisfy the state requirement for a lunch program in an efficient manner.
"The cost to the district will be very minimal," Peskoff said. "There isn't a large capital expense like that which comes with [maintaining] a full cafeteria. We get the aid and the children get fed, so it's a win-win [situation] all over the place."
Peskoff recommended starting a program for the 2006-2007 school year.
The Character Education/Substance Abuse Committee, represented by Linda Showell, announced the completion of a Family Resource Guide to Character Education, a handbook designed to promote the partnership between parents, the school district and the community.
The guide has a community resource list, a link to Web sites and tips for families. The guide will be distributed soon.
The remaining committees, the School and Community Relations Committee and the Technology Committee, also issued their reports. The former explored ways to increase communication with diverse groups in Baldwin.
Barbara Cohen, speaking on the committee's behalf, suggested a community barbecue and employing outside groups, such as the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre.
As for the Technology Committee, they espoused further development of the district's Web site as a means of better communication.
Familiar faces in new places
The Baldwin Educational Assembly also approved its slate of officers for the 2005-2006 Executive Committee.
Joel Peskoff will take over as chair while Carol Stern will serve as vice chair. Barbara Cohen will be the organization's secretary.
All three have been active members of the BEA.
Join up
The Baldwin Educational Assembly is seeking new members.
Joel Peskoff, who took over for Doug Dye as chair of the executive committee during the meeting, urged people to join. He said that the BEA ensures that the community's voice is heard on important matters.
"The community's interests bubble up to policy making," he said. "And that leaves us with a board that takes the direction that the community wants."
Meetings are held monthly and generally last about one hour.
School Board president James Scannell credited the BEA for providing valuable input and tireless commitment to the school district.
"[The BEA] plays an integral and important role in helping us make better-informed decisions," he said.
Mary Jo O'Hagan, who served as the board of education liaison for the 2004-2005 school year, said people who serve on the BEA are role models for the community.
"Volunteers are not paid," she said. "Not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless."
For more information about the BEA, contact Peskoff at (516) 623-9266.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ex. 282.
