By ALEX COSTELLO
Dr. Edward Price, Island Park superintendent of schools; Gloria Maffetone, principal of Francis Hegarty Elementary School in Island Park; and Bruce Misher, Oceanside’s assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and research, have all announced their retirement at the end of the school year.
Dr. Rosemarie Bovino, Island Park’s deputy superintendent, will replace Price. Robert Fenter, the principal of Oceanside Middle School, will take Misher’s place, and Allison Glickman-Rogers, the principal of School 5 in Oceanside, will become the new OMS principal. A replacement for Maffetone has not yet been named.
Price’s and Maffetone's retirements, as well as Bovino's new position, were announced at the Jan. 26 meeting of the Island Park Board of Education.
"It’s time," Maffetone said. "I’ve been in Island Park for 17 years ... I’ve been in education a total of 37 years. It’s time for someone to come in with other ideas, newer ideas." Maffetone spent all 17 of her years in Island Park as principal of Hegarty.
July 1 is Maffetone's last day. After that, she said, she looks forward to doing anything she wants, whenever she wants. "What I would really like to do is get a part-time job in the public library where I live," said the Uniondale resident. Maffetone said she is also looking forward to visiting New York City more frequently, seeing more theater, reading more, and sleeping late.
"And not have to worry about the weather like I did this morning!" Maffetone said on a snowy day. "When I looked out the window this morning, all I could think of was, next year at this time, not my problem."
For Price, the decision to leave was a relatively simple one. "I’m 65 years of age," he said. Price has been with the Island Park district for 13 years — 10 as superintendent, and the previous three as assistant superintendent.
"He’s been a great friend, he’s been a great mentor, and certainly I will miss having him here in the district because he’s been a great support to me, too," Bovino said of Price. "He’s established his reputation, and he’s still planning to be active, so I know I’ll have an opportunity to see him."
Price plans to focus more of his energy on Stony Brook University, where he teaches educational administration. But he said he is not worried about the future of the Island Park School district, because he is leaving it in very capable hands.
"I’ve worked in universities, I’ve worked in public schools, in several states, and [Bovino is] the finest educator I ever worked with," Price said. "They’re just darn lucky to have her."
Bovino has been deputy superintendent in Island Park for the past eight years. Whenever Price has been absent, she has filled in for him. "I’m very excited, and I feel very honored to receive the appointment," she said. "I’m especially pleased that I’m crossing this important milestone and that it’s taking place in Island Park."
Bovino said she hopes she will be able to implement an elementary foreign language program in the district, so children can begin learning a new language as early as kindergarten. She is currently working with a foreign language committee, and plans to present a proposal to the Board of Education soon.
A former principal of the Chinese International School in Hong Kong, a bilingual, bicultural school in Hong Kong blending English and Mandarin Chinese, Bovino said she would like to teach children Mandarin, which she sees becoming much more of an international language in the future.
"The problem is, it’s very difficult to get certified Mandarin speakers who can teach at the elementary level," she said. "That’s really the big challenge."
Misher announced his retirement at the Dec. 15 meeting of the Oceanside Board of Education and was approved at the Jan. 26 meeting. "I certainly wish him well in his retirement," said Dr. Herb Brown, Oceanside Schools superintendent. "He’s done a wonderful job, and I feel that he’ll be missed."
Misher has worked in the Oceanside district for 35 years. He began as a special education teacher, the first ever hired by the district, and then served as principal of School 4 for 23 years. He has been assistant superintendent for the past three years.
"I want to spend more time with my family and my new grandson," Misher said. "And, also, I would like to work part-time, also in education, working with one of the local colleges. Probably supervising student teachers."
"I’m sad to see Mr. Misher leave," said Fenter, his replacement. "I think he’s done an extraordinary service to Oceanside. I’m very excited about the opportunity, and I’m very happy to have been given the opportunity, but working with Bruce has been an honor."
When Misher announced his retirement, the district advertised for a new assistant superintendent but did not find an applicant officials thought was appropriate. "So we went to the [Board of Education] and said that we did initial interviews but we did not want to continue with the process further because we didn’t have other good candidates," Brown said. "We felt that Mr. Fenter was the star, so we recommended his appointment."
Fenter, who has been the principal of OMS for the past 12 years, said he not planning to make any big changes when he moves up. He said he is looking to continue the programs that have been put into place by Misher — especially the district's use of instructional technology.
"The investments we’ve made in SmartBoards and Intelliboards and computers in the classroom have really put Oceanside way ahead of so many other districts," said Fenter. "And I think we need to constantly review if we’re making the greatest use of them."
Glickman-Rogers, who will replace Fenter as OMS principal, said she isn't planning on any changes, either. "No, no changes at all," she said. "I’m looking forward to ... I don’t want to say becoming familiar, but it’s going to be a very different year for everyone."
The assistant principal at OMS for two years before she became principal of School 5 last year, Glickman-Rogers was a shoo-in to be the principal at OMS. Before she came to OMS, she was the assistant principal of the Port Washington district's middle school. "We felt she was the right person for the job," Brown said, "and we just recommended her."
Glickman-Rogers said she is looking forward to getting reacquainted with the students and staff of OMS next year. She said she is eager to work with adolescents again, something that she loves.
"I just enjoy working with this age group," she said. "I think they’re at a time where they need to be surrounded by as many adults as possible that understand them and what they’re going through socially, emotionally, and in terms of the changes academically."
The district is currently interviewing candidates for School 5 principal.
Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
