By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
Janet Wood and Kathy Sabitino spoke as representatives for the district's 70 to 75 aides and assistants, who according to Wood, have gone without a contract since June 30, 2001.
Wood declined to offer specifics of current negotiations between the Merrick District and the aides and assistants. After the meeting, she told the Herald: "Part of the problem is that we're asking for an amount that's not necessarily agreed upon." She, though, added, "There is no blame. We all enjoy our jobs."
During the meeting, Wood called aides and assistants the "silent work force," and she said, "We are no longer just the lunch ladies." Aides and assistants now pick up a number of duties, from office assistant to temporary nurse, according to Wood.
She also said, "We do lunch, but we also work in the classroom. We are becoming a part of the educational process."
Teacher assistants now must be certified and regularly take classes and in-service courses. "Many of us have degrees," said Wood.
"Wherever we're needed, we go," said Sabitino, "Whatever runs the school."
Regina Mignone, head of the Merrick Teachers' Union, of which aides and assistants are a part, was also on hand and spoke of the value that teachers place on the work these women and men do.
On working without a contract, Superintendent Ronald Smith, Ph.D. said, "Everyone would like to see that end as soon as possible, but the negotiations go on."
After the meeting, Wood and Sabitino said contract talks were delayed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In other district news:
Leasing of 300 new wireless Apple lap-top computers for fifth- and sixth-graders was discussed. The student-to-computer ratio would be 2-to-1. Sydney Freifelder, director of business and technology, said leasing the computers would cost $60,000 annually for five years, with zero-percent interest. However, unlike a traditional lease, at the end of this five-year agreement, the computers would become the property of the school district at no additional charge.
The 15 computers per class would also come with one printer that would not be wireless. The computers would be protected with a five-year warranty. Three out of the four computers now in each fifth- and sixth-grade classroom would be removed and used to replace any non-working computers in the lower grades.
Smith said that, because of new legislation requiring districts to have defibrillators on site, each of Merrick's three elementary schools will soon be equipped with the life-saving machines, and personnel in the schools will be trained in how to use them.
A parent raised the issue of school-bus seat belts. School buses must have them, but their use is not mandatory. Smith said because past research has debated whether a child is safer strapped in or not, there has been no regulation requiring their use. He did say the board of education would look into the most-recent research on the subject and decide if a district regulation requiring use of seat belts should be written.
Board member John Davis brought up another safety issue regarding potentially dangerous people who are found in the vicinity of a school. Notices do now go out to parents warning them of such individuals. Davis, though, suggested that the district look at other ways to notify the general public. His goal, he said, would be "increasing visibility and reducing the possibility of some individual doing harm to our children." Smith said he would look into ways to make the information more readily available.
