Cliffside Park board reviews summer facilities work, staff training ahead of school year

Cliffside Park School District Superintendent Alfano told the Board of Education on July 22 that support staff and multiple administrator and counselor trainings are complete and that the district’s summer facilities work is largely finished or under way ahead of classes starting next week.

The superintendent reported that child study team members, school counselors, ESL coordinators and the after-school coordinator returned to buildings Monday to prepare for the school year. “All administrators who conduct classroom evaluations received their training from the strong evaluation system on Tuesday,” Superintendent Alfano said, and he added that school counselors finished training on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, which requires screening by two staff members if a student shows self-harm indicators.

The update matters because it affects student safety, program availability and scheduled facility projects that the district expects to finish before or soon after classes begin. The board also reviewed several resolutions tied to summer construction and procurement and approved the meeting agenda by voice vote.

Key details from Alfano’s report and subsequent discussion:

- Staffing and instruction: The district held a full-day new-teacher orientation the morning of the meeting and has about 30 new staff members. Alfano said the administration reorganized supervisor roles and hired Josh Farah as an elementary social studies and math supervisor. The high school opened “0 period” classes so some students can take additional advanced-placement and honors coursework before the regular school day begins at 8:40 a.m.; about 270 students are enrolled in one of 16 offered 0-period classes.

- Counseling and student safety: Alfano reported that all school counselors are now trained to use the Columbia screener for identifying students with self-harm risk; the screener requires two staff members for screening when concerns are identified.

- Student technology and conduct: The district distributed new Chromebooks to fifth- and ninth-graders; Frank Savastano and the technology department handled the rollout. Alfano reminded families that Chromebooks and chargers are loaned property and that replacement fees will apply if devices or chargers are not returned. Families should review the district’s technology agreement and student code of conduct in the parent portal.

- After-school program and family outreach: After-school program coordinator Mr. Ragusa is accepting applications for students from Pre-K4 through sixth grade; some schools have wait lists. Back-to-school nights for elementary schools will start at 6 p.m., with a Superintendent meet-and-greet at 5 p.m. Dates for middle and high school events were to be scheduled later.

- Facilities and contracts: The superintendent walked the board through agenda pages 19–24, highlighting resolutions numbered 62–67 that reflect multiple summer projects: a change in the qualified purchasing agent (QPA) appointment tied to a July 1 increase in the QPA bid threshold from $44,000 to $53,000; a cafeteria door and multipurpose-room project managed by Blackstone awaiting a steel beam; masonry and balcony removal work at School 4 completed by ATG Restoration Specialist; interior work by local contractor Jose Pichardo at School 3 and the high school guidance suite; acoustical ceiling work and cabinetry for the high school gym lobby by local carpenters; and multiple quotes obtained for those jobs.

- Cooperative purchasing and gym-floor contract: The board discussed and moved to join the Huntington County Educational Services Commission so the district could use cooperative contracts. Superintendent Alfano said Mathasec LLC (referenced in the meeting as Mathasec, LLC Incorporated) will perform the gym-floor and multipurpose-room flooring work; Alfano said the district expects flooring delivery in October and contractor mobilization on Nov. 5. The board discussed membership requirements for the cooperative (district status and federal ID number) and confirmed enrollment so cooperative vendors may be used.

Votes and formal actions recorded in the transcript:

- Motion to approve the agenda: Mover — Mr. Garcia; second — Lieutenant Tarabaki (recorded as the individual who seconded). Board members who voted “yes” in roll call were Mrs. Abreu, Mrs. Bridal, Mr. Garcia, Mr. Nedru, Dr. Pantoliano, Mr. Raincourt, and Mr. Terabakya. (Roll-call formatting and exact spellings are reproduced from the meeting record.) The motion to adopt the agenda passed.

- Resolutions mentioned on the agenda (62–67 and 71): The superintendent described each project and cited the relevant agenda pages. The transcript records that the district is approving membership in the Huntington County Educational Services Commission and intends to proceed with Mathasec LLC for the flooring project; the transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies for each numbered resolution. Where the transcript does not provide a vote tally, the article notes that the specific tally was not specified in the record.

The meeting included brief committee and supervisor reports, praise for summer work by facilities staff and contractors, and thanks to central-office staff. The board moved to adjourn after completing the agenda; members closed the meeting and wished each other a safe Labor Day weekend.

Looking ahead: Schools reopen the week after the July 22 meeting, the district expects gym-floor work to begin Nov. 5 if materials arrive in October, and families should check the parent portal for technology and conduct forms.