By Nancy Hiler
"The only thing that's certain about life is that it's uncertain," Mucci said. "It is with regret but total optimism for the future that I ask my board to accept my resignation for retirement."
Board of Education President Nina Lanci replied, "On behalf of the board, we wish him much luck." Lanci is the only current board member who was a trustee when Mucci was hired.
"Retirement calls me," Mucci said in an interview, adding that he plans to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests. Well known for his research and presentations on the brain, he said that is an area in which he might become further involved in the future. He will officially retire Aug. 31.
The North Bellmore District comprises six elementary schools, five in North Bellmore and one in North Merrick.
Mucci also announced at the two-hour-plus meeting that Facilities Director Chris Milano had resigned. Milano accepted a position in the Lawrence School District, a kindergarten-through-12th grade system.
The board voted in favor of bonding $38.93 million to repair the district's deteriorating buildings and grounds. The poor condition of its facilities came to light only weeks after Milano came on board in the spring of 2005, and just months after Mucci took the district's reins in the fall of 2004.
The community will vote on the bond proposal Oct. 7. The district will hold workshops to inform people about the details of the proposal in July and August, Lanci said.
Mucci said he is pleased that he accomplished much of what the community asked him to when he first came on board. "Four years ago, I conducted the meet-and-greets, and from that experience I learned what mattered to our staff, parents, teachers, administrators and our Board of Education," Mucci recounted. "It was those conversations that helped me construct my vision for the district."
One of the common goals, he said, was developing "program consistency and aligning the curriculum so that all students have the same instructional opportunities across the district." All six schools were required to develop uniform approaches to instruction, which at times met with resistance.
Another of the goals, Mucci said, was "to improve the district's school facilities." He began the process in the summer of 2006 by forming a volunteer Facilities Planning Committee, which offered recommendations to the board about how to fix the district's aging buildings. Since then, some problems have been addressed, including water leaks that had plagued Newbridge Road Elementary School for several years, as well as emergency repairs at other schools.
Mucci said that other goals included expanding and improving technology education and introducing a foreign language program. In recent years the district began a Spanish program in grades five and six, and added desktop and laptop computers and interactive white boards.
"I am proud to state that we have successfully addressed these issues over the past four years, and then some," Mucci said. "The success we have had did not come by the hands of one individual. To be as successful as we have been requires a team effort."
"Even though it's only been four years," Trustee Joseph Perrone said to Mucci, "I think you have made an impact on the district that will last a lifetime."
Adam Raclaw, a parent and attorney, said, "You inspired me to be more involved in my community, and I will continue to do so. I won't let you down."
Referring to the major repair work needed at district buildings, Newbridge Road School PTA Co-President John Lemanski said to Mucci, "This district has a lot of work to do. We were relying on you to spearhead it." Lemanski also wished the superintendent well, and appealed to the board to hire a quality replacement for Mucci who could carry out the district's capital improvement plans.
"We are a very attractive district," Lanci said in response, adding that she anticipated having a number of candidates from whom to choose. She said she expected to have a new superintendent on board by Sept. 1.
Lanci also announced the appointment of JoAnn DeLauter to fill the board vacancy left by the recent resignation of Mary Oporto. DeLauter is well known for the many volunteer positions she has held in the community. Most recently she served as co-president of the W.C. Mepham PTA and corresponding secretary of the Grand Avenue Middle School PTSA. In the North Bellmore district, DeLauter served on the Council of PTAs, and she was a Park Avenue School PTA co-president.
Mucci also announced that three longtime district staff members were retiring: Saw Mill Road School sixth-grade teacher Elisse Arnell, Jacob Dinkelmeyer School second-grade teacher Barbara Ireland and Martin Avenue School nurse Mary Schwarz.
In other news ...
North Bellmore's six principals presented an hour-long progress report on the district's strategic plan, Mucci's brainchild. As part of the presentation, students sang a rendition of the district's mission statement, and others performed a puppet show depicting good character. "It's all positive," Mucci commented.
Newbridge Road students also expressed their disapproval of a plan to move next year's sixth-graders into basement classrooms from the top floor. Classroom placement is decided at the building level, Lanci told the children, but she welcomed them to the meeting and asked that they return anytime in the future to voice their concerns.
Comments about this story? NHiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
