POB JFK High School PTA Meeting
November 13, 2014
Eileen called the meeting to order at 7:39 PM
Welcome to Ryan Ruf, Sue Maddi, Debbie Bernstein and Amy Pierno, who are here for the Bond Referendum
presentation.
Our current budget and minutes from the last meeting are on each table, and the attendance book and share
folder are being circulated.
Thank yous for: Parent/Teacher Conferences, Andrea Goldman, Holly Ash and Allison Katz; 10 th Grade
Guidance Night, Maureen Cooke, Holly Ash, Cindy Mertz and Maria Gustafson; Hospitality, Patrice
Finkelstein
Bond Referendum Presentation - December 9, 2014 bond referendum vote. What was the process?
Gathered information to ascertain what work is necessary to be completed. Reviewed, discussed, quantified,
organized ands prioritized needs, identified scopes and recommended action. Bond committee consisted of
representatives from school PTAs and other committees, building principals, custodial and administrative
staff, our architectural firm and members of the community. On October 14, 2014 Board of Ed adopted a
resolution for a bond referendum in the amount of $49,816,257. A List Priorities: projects included in the
Bond Referendum; B List: projects to be addressed once A list items are completed if there are still funds
remaining. Alleviates pressures in our year-to-year budgets that must meet the tax cap. $240,000 of energy
efficiency upgrades. Parent asked if there was any idea of projected savings for heating/a/c with new energy
efficient windows - Approximately $30 per room savings. Using individual units rather than central a/c
because central a/c would be too expensive to install district-wide. We want to take advantage of the current
economy with its attractive interest rates and our current AAA Bond rating which will afford us preferred
lending status. Question was raised as to what interest rate this was calculated with & if interest rates could
change. The amounts were calculated with a 4 ½ % rate. Current rates are about mid 2% and we are
expecting some rise in the interest rates to possibly mid 3%. The full presentation is available on the district
website. Eileen asked for a vote for the POB JFK HS PTA to take a position on the Bond Referendum. A
motion was made to support the referendum, the motion was seconded and passed.
Raffle tickets are available for purchase tonight if you cannot make it to Parents Night Out on November 19
and would like to take a chance on winning any of the baskets.
Principal’s Report – Mr. Murray discussed new course proposals & tweaks to existing courses – Adding
Business class in Advanced Investment Strategies (after Stock Market & Taxation); English classes in
Journalism, Genre Study: The Play, & Public Speaking/Forensics; Interdisciplinary Class in
English10R/Global History 10R; Math classes in Computer Science Principles (will become an AP course in
2016-17),Multivariable Calculus (Virtual course through SUNY Empire State College, which requires AP
Calculus BC), and Syracuse Univ. Project Advance Calculus (would replace current Calculus); Phys. Ed.
Classes in Beginner Weight Training, and CrossFit; and World Language classes in Spanish for Health Related
Careers, Chinese for Business Related Careers, & Advanced Beginner French (as a second language for
students already taking another World Language). Tweaking Career & Financial Management to run every
other day all year, to have more emphasis on China, and to recommend taking with Chinese for Business
Related Careers; Advanced Weight Training to require the Beginner class or teacher approval; and Living
Environment & Chemistry Honors classes to make them more rigorous, align them more with the SAT Subject
Tests & better prepare students for AP classes. Eliminating Intermediate Algebra & US History Honors.
Questions raised: Prerequisites for virtual math program are only available in 12th grade. What do students
need to do to be eligible for that class in 12th grade? Mr. Murray will follow up.What about sign language? ASL
still has levels 1, 2, and 3. Level 4 should be available next year. These proposed new courses are not yet
approved by BOE. Trying to speed up the process for approval, would like to be able to begin speaking to
students about these new courses for next year’s school schedule in January. Questions raised about
elimination of US History Honors - Are any other Honors classes being done away with? Now students’ only
options are Regents and AP classes for 10th and 11th grade? Regents rigor has been increasing, so doing away
with Honors classes because there’s not enough difference between the levels. Has anyone reviewed pre-AP
versus regular classes? Parents felt that there is much more work in the pre-AP classes and students are
struggling. Trend in other districts is to do away with Honors classes. Ms. Lasher spoke about the AP
Capstone program that some LI schools are piloting. Capstone is designed for the above average thinker and
advanced student. High school administration will be visiting schools that are currently piloting program –
Bethpage and Hewlett. In the AP Capstone program, students typically take AP Seminar in the 10 th or 11th
grade, followed by AP Research. Students who earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research
and on 4 additional AP exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies their
outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. AP Seminar
is a foundational course where students develop and strengthen analytic and inquiry skills, exploring 2 to 4
relevant issues chosen by the student and/or teacher. Students learn to consider an issue from multiple
perspectives, evaluate the strength of an argument and make logical, fact-based decisions. Students will
question, research, explore, post solutions, develop arguments, collaborate and communicate using various
media. Themes that allow for deep exploration based on student interests, local and/or civic issues, global or
international topics and concepts from other AP courses are typically selected. During the course, students
complete a team project, an individual paper and presentation and take a written final exam. The AP Seminar
exam score is based on all three components as reported on the standard 1–5 AP scoring scale. AP Seminar is
a prerequisite for AP Research. AP Research requires students to design, plan and conduct a year-long
research-based investigation on the topic of individual interest. Through this inquiry and investigation,
students demonstrate the ability to apply scholarly understanding to real-world problems and issues.
Students further the skills developed in AP Seminar by understanding research methodology, employing
ethical research practices and accessing, analyzing and synthesizing information to build, present and defend
an argument. Students may choose to dig deeper into a topics studied in an AP course, work across academic
areas with an interdisciplinary topic or study a new area of interest, perhaps one for further study at the
college level. At the end of the research investigation, students submit an academic thesis paper of about
5000 words, presenting their thesis and orally defending their work. The AP Research exam score is based on
the paper, presentation and defense and is reported on the standard 1–5 AP scoring scale. This program is
not going to be considered until the 2016–17 school year, and would be start with the 2016-17 Sophomores.
Questions as to whether the schools being visited have 8 or 9 period days. Mr. Murray will let us know. Which
department would supervise this program? Housed in social studies possibly-we want to see what other pilot
schools are setting up. Will this program take away from our current successful research programs like Psych
and Science? No, this is different. Will this program limit the other electives that students would be able to
select should they selected this program? Yes, probably, but we will look into that.
A motion was made to accept the minutes from last meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted.
Nominating Committee - We were informed by counsel that we need a general membership alternate. Eileen
asked for volunteers, and Natalie Drebsky volunteered. There were no other volunteers. Natalie was appointed
as the general membership alternate.
Membership - Approximately 890 members. Question as to how many are staff. Will have that for next
meeting.
Treasurer’s Report - As of November 13, 2014, we have $13,550.90 in our main account. We have a total of
$6602.12 in our scholarship account, which includes a reserve of $4694.62. That leaves us with $1907.50 so
far this year.
College Awards - Please come out next week for Parents Night Out on November 19 at Mio Posto to support
our College Awards.
Committee Reports
Booster Club - Held their fall athletic awards. Joe Braico should be commended. The awards for were for both
JV and Varsity teams and players. Each coach had five minutes to speak. MVPs were selected. All seniors
called to the front and applauded as they left the presentation.
Founder’s Day - Our parent recipient is Ronni Leo.Staff recipients will be announced tomorrow after they are
informed. The dinner and awards will be on March 13 at the Crest Hollow country club.
BOE - The request to have the visitor policy changed as was discussed at our last meeting was presented and
addressed at the BOE meeting. The BOE has taken it under advisement.
Community Awareness - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Trainville Hobby Depot will host
their 5th annual Model Train Show on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 from 11 AM to 4
PM at the Bethpage Senior Community Center to benefit the Empire Games for the Physically Challenged.
November 15 is Town of Oyster Bay’s non-hazardous waste Homeowners Cleanup Program. Citizens
Campaign for the Environment has partnered with King Kullen to provide for Nassau and Suffolk residents to
safely dispose of unused and expired pharmaceutical drugs at the local King Kullen pharmacies free of
charge.
Nutrition - Discussed were food shortages in the cafeteria from students doubling up on lunches and others
not able to get a first portion.
Structural Review Committee - The committee met today and discussed the reduction of the buses in proposal
11. 9th period buses are not affected. 10th period buses would be reduced by 3 to 4 buses due to reduced
ridership. How would this affect childcare? 60 students in district and 60 in JCC program are the only ones
who would be affected out of 367 attendees. The census has been mailed out and committee is waiting to
discuss other parts of the proposal until they get the results of the census. They anticipate no information
until January or February 2015. Ryan Ruf presented a capacity report for the schools who would be affected
should the Kindergarten Center close. Discussed how they would move classrooms to bring the new classes
into the buildings. It was determined that they really could not tell the outcomes until they get more
information from the census.
Transportation - If certain underutilized routes must be eliminated, then 9th and 10th period bus routes will
be consolidated, not gone completely. This is subject to the vote on February 9 the Structural Review
Committee proposals. Nothing is set. As for 10th period 20–30 minute waiting time, Mark Donovan
responded that this has been going on for the last 10 years. It may not change. They cannot switch time of
pickup with middle schools. (Nadine was on vacation and not at the last meeting.) In option #11, bus routes
will split the town into two halves, with one set of buses servicing one half exclusively and likewise for the
second set. There will be no buses transversing crosstown to be more time and distance efficient.
Parents Night Out - Thank you to the people who purchased raffle tickets tonight; The dinner will be next
week at Mio Posto restaurant; delicious food and a DJ; proceeds supporting Scholarships/College Awards.
Liaisons
Mattlin - We recently had a Yankee candle sale – very successful. Gretchen Brown from the POB Library did a
presentation. We used Teacher Reacher for parent/teacher conference appointments. Arts in Ed presented
Yes You Can. Next meeting November 18.
POBMS -We celebrated Spirit Week, Technology Week and had an anti-bullying presentation from the Nassau
County Police Department. We are anticipating the Harlem Globetrotters as part of ABC/Anti-Bullying
program in December.
SEPTA - Our Parents Night Out was very successful and lots of fun.
MAPOB -Middle school program next week: Enriching Your Child’s Love of Music; what is available outside of
school.
NEW BUSINESS
Parent raised question as to second half of the year change in PE grading – Will there be notification? Mr.
Murray stated that Mr. Braico will be sending out a letter soon. Follow up question as to whether the “no vneck policy” is part of the class contract or will it be a class–by–class decision? This was brought up at the
Athletic Committee meeting. Mr. Murray will suggest that Mr. Braico address this in his letter to parents.
Blood Drive - December 1, 9 AM to 9:30 PM hour blood drive will be held at POBMS. We will be in the bus
Mobile in the back parking lot during school then in the cafeteria starting at 3:30 PM. Anyone needing
community service hours please contact Julie Kessler.
Tentatively, on December 4, there will be a Volunteer Fair presented by community organizations. It will be
held periods 9 and 10. It is open to everyone to find out about community service opportunities.
Our next meeting will be held on December 11. We will be voting on the new bylaws.
A motion was made to end the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed.
Respectfully submitted, Patrice Finkelstein