Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters ask about class sizes, graduation gowns and hockey funding; district staff give space and class-size updates
Summary
Public speakers at the Syosset Board of Education meeting asked about elementary class sizes and therapy spaces, urged a review of gendered graduation-gown colors and requested school support for the boys hockey club.
Three members of the public used the district’s open-comment period at the August meeting to raise distinct issues: class sizes and therapy space at Walt Whitman Elementary; gender and color conventions for graduation gowns; and the funding status of the boys hockey program.
Danielle Sanjabi, a Walt Whitman parent, asked about student-to-teacher targets and space for related services. Dr. Curry, a district staff member who led space planning over the summer, replied that the district secured “both dedicated and designated spaces that are appropriate for [OT, PT, speech and ENL] services” and provided elementary class-size guidelines: kindergarten classes “no more than 22 students,” grades 1–3 “do not go higher than 25 students,” and grades 4–5 cap at 27 students. Dr. Curry also described recess supervision and alternate indoor activities on inclement days and said monitors receive training in proactive behavior supports.
Resident Leslie Schlemens asked the board to consider unifying graduation-gown colors so that male and female graduates would no longer wear distinct colors. She said using white for girls felt “archaic” and urged the district to allow students to choose or to select a single, districtwide color. Superintendent Dr. Rogers thanked Schlemens for raising the concern and said he would confer with high school staff and reflect on the comment.
Tony Gagliano, speaking for the boys hockey club, said the program has operated as a club for decades and asked whether the team could receive district support similar to the crew team, which the board recently assisted. Gagliano noted rising costs for ice time and league fees and said the team won a state championship. Dr. Rogers said he would prepare more information for the board so trustees could consider whether the team’s status or funding should change.
Ending: Staff responses in the meeting provided specifics on class-size targets and service-space planning and committed the superintendent to follow up on graduation-gown practices and on options for supporting the hockey program.
