By Howard Goldstein
That is why many in the Bellmore School District were saddened to hear recently that Skolnick is retiring from the school board.
Skolnick was elected to the Bellmore board in 1988, and three years later she was appointed to the Central High School board. Ever since, she's served on both boards.
"It was a tough choice," Skolnick said of her retirement. "I love [serving on the board], but the district is in good shape. Fundamentally, Bellmore and the Central High School district are fantastic."
She noted that she will continue teaching 10th- and 11th-grade English at Wantagh High School.
Skolnick began frequenting school board meetings 20 years ago when her son was in second grade, and she became a regular. It wasn't long before a board member retired and she was asked to fill the vacancy.
"At first, I didn't want to," she said. "But I knew that I understood education, so I came around. I always had such a positive view of school boards, and I recognized how much good a committed board member could accomplish."
During her tenure, Skolnick served as president or vice president of either the Bellmore or Central High School district boards for six out of 15 years.
She has been involved with several initiatives in both districts. Recently, the Bellmore School District introduced foreign languages in the elementary schools. Foreign language isn't often taught in elementary grades. Skolnick and others, however, pushed for it as an important part of children's education, noting that the younger children learn a language, the more likely they are to retain it and speak it fluently.
Another initiative was all-day kindergarten. This had been tried years before, but it was, according to Skolnick, "ahead of its time. We pushed hard to get it back, and now the community is receptive."
A project that Skolnick spearheaded seeks to introduce a nine-period day in the Central High School District. Only eight periods are offered now. The change, if approved by voters in this year's budget vote, will give students more time and flexibility for art, music, Advanced Placement or remedial classes.
"Currently, students have to choose between art or music," she said. "We feel that students should be able to take advantage of classes without having to abandon one for the other," she said.
Skolnick looks forward to new challenges after retirement, but still feels sadness at leaving. "Schools are very dear to me," she said. "It is important that the tradition of the Bellmore schools continues. The first question this board ever asked was, Is it good for the kids?
"I've seen other boards where the kids did not come first. Bellmore has a history of top-quality instruction, and hopefully will always continue to see the big picture and put kids and communities first."
