Frontario succeeds Weber as business head

Louis Frontario will succeed the retiring Dr. Peter Weber as assistant superintendent for business in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District as of July 1, the beginning of the new school year.

Weber, who has been with the district since 2004, was a science teacher in the Valley Stream Central High School District in the early 1970s. From 1978 to 1985 he was the business manager in Valley Stream District 30. He served as the assistant superintendent for business in the Lawrence School District from 1985-1992. Before Weber came to Hewlett-Woodmere, he was executive director of the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal, and the chief financial officer of the Uniondale-based insurance company Wright Risk Management Inc. from 1992 to 2004.

“I’m looking forward to working with my successor as early as June,” Weber told the Herald previously. “Then, after a short vacation, I expect to select part-time work in another field.”

Frontario’s professional experience includes more than 30 years in education. He is the assistant superintendent for business and finance in the Freeport district, and an adjunct professor at LIU Post’s graduate school of education administration. From 1998 to 2014, he served as the assistant superintendent for business and finance in the Oceanside district. Frontario has also been the business administrator and chief finance officer for East Rockaway schools and director of administrative services in Manhasset.

“I look forward to joining the district’s highly respected leadership team and bringing my energy, talents and skills to the exciting teaching and learning environment of Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools,” Frontario said in a prepared release.

He has a master’s in business administration in accounting and finance from St. John’s University, a master’s in education administration and organizational behavior from New York University and a bachelor’s in technology education and industrial design from SUNY Oswego.

Frontario is a member of the New York State and Nassau County associations of School Business Officials, the National Association of College and University Business Officers as well as his local chamber of commerce and Kiwanis Club.

The district also appointed Walter Lastowski to become the district’s director of art and music, effective July 15, to replace Kevin Bayen, who, after more than 40 years in Hewlett-Woodmere is retiring.

Lastowski has worked in the district for over 20 years is the general music and music theory teacher for grades 6-8, the vocal music teacher for grades 4-123, director of the Woodmere Middle School and Hewlett High School musical productions, and the district’s auditorium manager.

He taught at the Meadow Hill Global Explorations Magnet School in upstate Newburgh and at Holy Family Parochial school in the Bronx prior to coming to Hewlett-Woodmere.

“His vast experience and district knowledge will allow him to serve as a capable supervisor and mentor for all of the teachers in the art and music departments in this expanded role,” Mark Secaur, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said in a media release.

John Wimmer was appointed to be the district’s social studies chairman, effective Aug. 18. Wimmer is the grade 6-12 chairman. In the seven years in that position, he implemented the Advanced Placement Capstone Program, the 11th grade interdisciplinary research paper and the co-teaching social studies program at both the middle school and high school. He has been with the district since 1989.

“I am confident that the district will continue to benefit from his experience, training and work ethic,” Secaur said in the release.