By: Martha Jacovides
Dan DeLilla was appointed to the North Bellmore School Board at its Thursday, August 10 meeting. Mr. DeLilla replaces Howard Pollitt who resigned earlier this year and who was recently hired as business administrator for the district.
Mr. DeLilla is a resident of North Bellmore, with children at Mepham, Grand Avenue and Newbridge Road schools. He is also active with the district's space and enrollment committee.
Superintendent's report
In his report to the board, Superintendent James Parla announced that the Martin Avenue. school reconstruction is continuing and on schedule. Most of the new windows have been installed," he said, as well as new doors. and an elevator.
The electrical upgrade is continuing, he said, and many of the projects slated to be done have already started or are about to begin.
"We are on schedule for the re-opening of Martin Avenue School that is set for September 2001. The school had been closed for 20 years.
Curriculum report
Assistant Superintendent Marilyn Johnson reported on several curriculum projects that have been taking place over the summer. These are:
* In English/language arts -a mapping project identifying the scope and sequence of the curriculum for each grade level to ensure they are aligned with the new state standards;
* In social studies - also a project to meet the new state standards;
* In special education - a report on the two classes held this summer, considered successful, now winding down.
* In extra help - the three week summer program served over 400 children and was also considered a success, she said.
Playgrounds
The board passed a resolution to upgrade the playgrounds at each school. According to Edward Mercurio, director of facilities, all capital projects are running on schedule, and he expects a smooth opening of schools.
Class size?
About 20 people were in the audience; Supt. Parla agreed to meet with a group of parents from the Dinkelmeyer School who are concerned over class size in the fourth grade. School Principal Deborah King will be asked to join the discussion, he said.
"It got to be my turn to give something back"
Dan DeLillo, new school trustee
New school trustee: home grown guy
By MARTHA JACOVIDES
Dan DeLillo, who joined the North Bellmore School Board last week, comes from a family that goes back to the early 1900's in the Bellmore-Merrick area.
Now living in North Bellmore, born and raised in Merrick, graduated from Birch, Merrick Avenue and Kennedy High schools, married to a Calhoun grad, Dan DeLillo can tell you about the grandfather who built the third house on Meadowbrook Road in 1921. "My father grew up there," he says.
He himself grew up in a house that his mother's parents bought in 1940. "We go back to the Indians," he says. "Our families are people who moved to the area and stayed.
"My father was active in coaching sports, and my mother was in PTA up through the Nassau District Board - It got to be my turn to give something back."
Mr. DeLillo is a construction contract manager in the city with the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, formerly the Triboro Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
After Kennedy, Mr. DeLillo earned his associate degree in marketing from Nassau Community College, and worked for 20 years at Grumman Aerospace, followed by six years with the New York City school construction authority.
It was while he was there that he first got involved with his local schools, answering a call to work on a Newbridge PTA committee that was developing ideas for new playgrounds that have since come into being.
""Then they put out a call for a Large Space and Enrollment Committee that was figuring where to put all the kids" expected with increasing enrollment. "I figured my expertise [with city school construction] might be desired," he says, remembering that he himself gave the part of the presentation on creating alternate space by using trailers, modular units, etc.
Mr. DeLillo has been married for 21 years to the former Terry Fisher. They are the parents of three children: Stephen, 16, at Mepham; Julianne, 13, at Grant; and Gregory, 9, at Newbridge. Terry DeLillo is an office manager for a limousine company.
What teacher made a difference in his life? "Miss Verino, my eighth grade English teacher," he answers. "She made us learn grammar and taught us how to write. She was the first teacher who got me really interested in learning to be better."
Mr. DeLillo, who will serve on the North Bellmore Board for one year, is filling the time left in the term of Howard Pollitt who resigned to become the district's business manager.
At present, he thinks it most probable that he will run in his own right in 2001.
