POB JFK HS PTA General Membership Meeting
Monday, October 27, 2014
Eileen called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
The attendance book and share folders were circulated; share folder has copies of approved district policies
and proposed policy regarding visitors.
Thank you for the following: Back-to-School Night:Amy Pierno, Andrea Goldman and Cheryl Dender for
covering the PTA table so the rest of us could attend; Guidance Nights: Maria Gustafson, Alison Gallub,
Allison Katz and Randi Goldberg; Parent/Teacher Conferences: Susan Wolkenbrod, Ronnie Leo, Vivian Chen,
Cindy Mertz, Andrea Goldman, Randi Goldberg, Holly Ash and Allison Katz; Hospitality: Patrice Finkelstein
A motion was made to accept the minutes from last PTA meeting. The motion was seconded and accepted.
Report from Mr. Murray: Events since last meeting: Senior Class photo, Safe Teen Driving Night, Research
Colloquium, DECA installation, Marching Band Festival, GSA sponsored National Coming Out Day, Senior
Spirit Week, Engineering Awareness Night, First Parent/Teacher Conferences, Pep Rally & Homecoming.
There was a lock out incident on Friday, October 24. It was business as usual inside the building. No
outsiders were let in. The goal was to keep students in the building until dismissal; the lockout started after
8th period dismissal had already taken place. The lockout was called by the district for precautionary
measures, not by law enforcement. Proposed new course options will be discussed at the next meeting. There
is a proposed change to closed campus; currently just freshmen, proposed for next year freshmen and
sophomores. And lastly, thank you for your wedding gifts and generosity.
Report from Mrs. Lynn: As of today 52% of our seniors have submitted college applications, compared to
34% this time last year. We have 6 on-site admissions programs planned: Hofstra on November 7, Adelphi on
November 10, Nassau Community College on November 17, Dowling College on November 18, L IU Post on
November 20, St. John’s University on December 5. Students need to sign up for these in Guidance. We held
our Freshman Parent Guidance Night on October 1, and our Financial Aid Night for Grades 9 and 10 on
October 18. On October 16 we hosted a Harvard Admissions Workshop for Long Island Counselors. Our
teachers had the opportunity to talk with the admissions rep about letters of recommendation, and our
students had the opportunity to meet with this rep during period 9. Our Grade 10 Guidance Meeting will take
place on November 6. This year Tom Ehlers, founder of Method Test Prep, will be speaking about the
upcoming changes to the SAT and the counselors will focus on Naviance. Students and parents should
attend. On Saturday, November 8, Princeton review will be hosting a free full length SAT or ACT. There will
be a scores-back session on November 13 at 7 PM. Students can register at PrincetonReview.com or call 1800-2review. The deadline for registration is this Friday, October 31. Digital Citizenship Week will be held the
week of November 10. Information will be in the upcoming Guidance newsletter. Activities are planned
around different themes for each grade level.
Information from the President/Superintendent meeting: New York State Department of Education has
announced the 2022 initiative-all students now in 5th grade or younger will need to pass the Algebra Regents
with an 80 and the English Regents with a 75 in order to graduate. The district website now has an “Ask the
Superintendent” button for questions for Dr. Lewis.
Our current Reflections chairperson has stepped down. We are in need of a Reflections chairperson. Please
see Eileen if you are interested.
Committee Reports
Membership - We currently have 864 members
Treasurer - We currently have $13,134.08 in our main account; there is $6602.12 in the scholarship account
which includes a reserve of $4225.62
College Awards- November 19 Parents Night Out will support our scholarships
Arts & Ed -Remember to give 15 days notice for Josh/BOCES to approve requests
Athletic Committee/Booster Club - Coaches for Cancer Week all teams wore pink. $2300 was raised for
the American Cancer Society. The end of March/beginning of April is proposed for the completion of the
comfort station which would include concession stand and restrooms. Second semester will include number
grades for physical education but they will not be included in the GPA. Vee-neck shirts are will no longer
allowed during physical education class, starting second semester. The Plainview-Old Bethpage district was
given a grant from Chuck Levine for permanent bleachers with a photo stand. The Booster Club is going to
give out awards and recognitions after each season. Our Varsity Volleyball team is in the playoffs. Our Boys
Varsity Soccer team made the playoffs. Our cross-country team won Counties on Saturday and is going to
state competition. JV Football won and Varsity Football won at Homecoming. Girls soccer lost to Oceanside.
Bricks are available for purchase for our HawkWalk brick walkway. 8 x 8 bricks are $150. The booster club is
becoming very active and they encourage everyone to join.
Board of Education - The BOE adopted the bond proposal. Ryan Ruf & board members will be at the
November meeting to speak about the bond.
Curriculum - On 9/15/14 Board of Regents presented a proposal to change the current graduation
requirements. The proposal is being discussed now & will be voted on January 2015. It will affect the
students who entered 9th grade in 2011. Students could opt to swap out one of the currently required Social
Studies Regents (Global or US) for one of the “Pathway” exams in 1 of 4 areas (Art, CTE, Humanities, STEM).
Profession level or national exams (ie Carpentry) would be taken in place of Regents. Board of Regents looking
at how to evaluate which exams will qualify. From guidance perspective, counselors will not advise our
students any different if looking to go to a 4 year college. Only effect students interested in other avenues (ie
BOCES). The graduation credit requirements will remain at 22. Students will take either 5 regents or 4
regents with an alternate assessment to get a Regents Diploma. This summer district began ELA staff
development in HS. Theory is teachers in all disciplines are teachers of literacy. As such, HS teachers in all
disciplines will be receiving staff development. There is currently 8 days scheduled for said staff development
& teachers will be absent from classroom during their scheduled times. New course names & descriptions are
being worked on, as well as a pamphlet highlighting career paths that these courses can lead to. A video is
being put together from each department regarding its electives. Students will view the video in LGI & be
given a pamphlet. The video will also be on website. An update regarding this will be given at January 12,
2015 meeting. On 11/13/14, Mr Murray will introduce new course proposals at the HS PTA meeting. On
11/17/14, Mr Murray will introduce same to the public at the BOE meeting. On 11/24/14, Curriculum
meeting will discuss new course proposals. There is no contractual amount of time for teachers to return
marked test to students. It is agreed & encouraged that 1 week is sufficient, barring issues (ie makeups). It is
standard that students get the “exams” returned & not just the scantron. It was noted that some teachers
may not allow the students to remove the marked exam from the classroom after viewing. because some
questions are part of a “test bank” that teachers don’t want circulating. Shouldn’t be the case in tests with
Regents questions since those questions are public record. It is encouraged to send the exams home. If
parents finding otherwise, please call. Portal will be closed for 5 days at end of marking period, but not closed
at all at Progress Report time. It is closed at end of marking period to allow teachers to input last grades &
class participation, as well as the overall performance of the student’s quarter work (there is a 3 point
discretion). There is no contractual amount of time for teachers to post grades on portal. It is agreed &
encouraged that 1 week after exam is returned to students (2 weeks after exam given) is sufficient. If parents
finding otherwise, please call. Administration does spot checks of the teachers’ grade books. If issue noticed,
department chair is notified & contacts teacher. The HS has been discussing grading, the differences in
grading & its impact. Topics for the 2014-2015 School Year: AP Global (no honors Global in Gr 10), College &
Career Readiness Standards, Pt 154: ESL challenge, Research. Facing History & Ourselves (classes &
scheduling), New Course Proposals, ASL Level 4 class, PE Grading & Absences follow-up, Seniors Community
Service (courses/time), AP Pressure, College Level class designation.
Health - Pride Survey results are in and posted on the website. Survey was given to grades 6, 8, 10 and 12.
Results are showing a decline in use. However, our 12th grade is higher than the national norms in alcohol,
drugs and tobacco use. They are saying that it is caused from peer pressure from friends. E-Cigarettes are no
longer allowed on school grounds. Some kids are putting drugs in the E-Cigarettes. MS and HS are both
involved in Red Ribbon Week. At the HS level it is combined with the SADD program. Banners about not
using drugs are being made at Mattlin. October is also bullying prevention month. Booster club is selling pink
T-shirts to the sports teams. The sports teams purchased them and are raising money for cancer. The teams
will be wearing pink T-shirts and/or pink socks to one of the games this month along with the coaches.
Legislation - There was a rally in Commack on Sunday to support a bill by Rep. Steve Israel aimed at
reducing standardized testing in schools. If passed, the bill would allow schools to cut testing by half from two
tests each year ,one in math and one in English Language Arts, to one each year alternating between the two.
Public schools that rank at the 15th percentile or above statewide could go to a four year testing cycle with
English Language Arts tests given at the end of grades 3 and 7 and math exams at the end of grades 4 and 8.
No changes to science testing for 4th and 8th grades or Regents exams.
Nutrition -New meal restrictions as of July focus on sugar requirements and sugar in drinks. Sodium is
next.
Site Based - September 29: No Freshman Friday. Assemblies very successful. They were earlier this year,
which was very helpful. Student Attendance: Three new attendance deans; Mr. Goodstone, Mr. Horn, Ms.
Santorella. Two periods a day, used to be three periods a day. Address excessive absences and cuts. Take
students out of classrooms. Senior picture was taken on bleachers today. New custodian was hired. Recycling
program from outside company will be starting district wide. With the new 9th graders, (444 - 75 more than
previous year), hallways are extremely crowded, halls by Library especially. Suggestion to keep Library doors
open, but the library doors are kept closed by order of the fire marshal. October 27: There was lots of
enthusiasm for homecoming on October 27. Seniors held a scarf sale and sold out (100).Juniors sold winter
hats and sold out (75). Juniors are looking to book their prom for next year, Floral Terrace? Sophomores are
selling sweatpants and bracelets-huge success, lots of involvement. Freshmen are selling basketball socks.
This Friday is Pink Out in connection with the American Cancer Society. Family Bagel donated pick bagels
that will be sold during the day. The Pep Rally lacked spirit. Suggestion to have students sit by grade to
increase enthuasiasm. SRC – Census will be sent out in October and is due the week of 11/12. Hoping for at
least 40-50 % response. Looking for PTA to support and raise awareness for the necessity of a response.
Proposed new Option #11 – Both middle schools would be on same schedule. Zero period starts 7:42, Periods
1-8 would be 8:33-2:43. 9th period would end 3:28. HS would stay the same , Elementary start time would be
8:10 instead of 8:15. K-Center would run 9:20-3:35.
Technology - Over the summer every student/teacher/administrator computer processors, memory and
operating systems were all upgraded to Windows 8.1. 7306 user accounts were migrated with only 17
accounts misdirected and needing to be migrated manually. The new generator at POB MS is scheduled to be
in place and operational in early November.
Title IX - The books purchased last year for the school libraries were given out. More bookmarks will be
ordered. Want to continue buying books for school libraries. Discussed suggestions for speakers. 2015
Women’s History theme - Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives. Next meeting November 19.
Transportation - There may possibly be a reduction of 9th and 10th grade buses, due to low ridership. Bus
drivers are going to be given the opportunity to request specific bus routes should changes be made. Request
was made for Mira to bring back our unit’s objections to bus reduction, as low ridership is based partially on
buses coming 20 minutes after 10th period ends, and then leaving too quickly.
Founder’s Day - Founder’s Day Dinner and Awards will be held on March 11 at the Crest Hollow Country
Club. The Founder’s Day nomination meeting will be held at 6:45 before the November 13 HS PTA meeting.
Parents Night Out - Parents Night Out will be held on Wednesday, November 19 at Mio Posto
Liaisons
Mattlin-5th grade won Pride Week. They raffled off iPad mini. Fair was a success. Yankee Candle fundraiser
being held now.
POB-Spirit Cards end October 28. Cookie dough sale was a success and the winners pied the Principal. 180
5th and 6th graders attended Halloween party. Picture retake day is November 20. Book fair is November 24
and 25, followed by the Holiday Boutique. Together with Mattlin MS, selling tickets to Islander game on
December 6 at 1pm.
SEPTA - Parents Night Out November 5 $40
MAPOB- Selling car magnets to support scholarship
New Business
Re: Board of Education Visitor Policy - PTAs cannot require visitors to sign in for their meetings because they
are public, but we would like to propose the change to the policy that visitors can be required to sign in for
nighttime meetings, at the building principal’s discretion. A motion was made to propose this change. The
motion was seconded, and approved.
Formation of the Nominating Committee - In addition to the 3 board members elected to the Nominating
Committee (Ronnie Leo, Olga Portnoy and Maria Gustafson, with Debbie Baer as alternate), two general
membership members are needed. Paula Barsky and Margo Garcia were only volunteers, so they were named
to the committee.
A motion was made to end the meeting. The motion was seconded, and approved.