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Sewanhaka board swears in trustees, elects officers and approves contracts, calendar and capital work
Summary
At its July 8 reorganizational meeting the Sewanhaka Central High School District board sworn in newly appointed and elected trustees, elected board officers, approved multiple consent-agenda items including a Hofstra contract for 2026 graduations and revisions to the 2025–26 school calendar, and authorized posting the district safety plan.
Trustees were sworn in and board officers were elected at the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education reorganizational meeting on July 8, 2025, and the board approved a slate of routine and calendar items, a contract for graduation ceremonies and multiple capital-project authorizations.
The board swore in representatives from member districts and appointed Joanne Murnane as district clerk before electing a board president and vice president. The board then moved from its organizational session into the regular meeting and approved consent-agenda items across administrative, curricular, finance, personnel, civil-service and support-services categories.
The routine approvals included authorization for the district to enter into a contract with Hofstra University for graduation ceremonies set for June 27–28, 2026; approval of a professional membership agreement with SCOPE Education Services; and final approvals tied to New York State Education approvals that permit the start of restroom renovations and a new press box at Elmont High School. The board also approved revisions to the 2025–26 school calendar, including replacing the Nov. 4 parent-teacher conference day with a back-to-school night on Sept. 18 and closing school May 27 in recognition of Eid al-Adha while adding Dec. 23 as a regular school day.
Superintendent remarks during the meeting highlighted recent graduate outcomes and summer programs. The superintendent reported that 1,387 students graduated across the district’s five high schools, 97 percent of graduates received a Regents diploma, about 70 percent planned to attend four-year colleges and 99 percent of the class graduated. Summer programs noted included an extended school year program at New Hyde Park serving about 75 students, a student enrichment program for incoming seventh graders with more than 500 participants, and summer school at Elmont Memorial with roughly 200 students preparing for Regents exams.
The board also received an update that New York State Education approval cleared the 2024–25 capital projects for Elmont — work on boys’ and girls’ restrooms and the Elmont press box began July 7, 2025 — and that remaining items tied to the 2021–22 Capital Reserve Fund remain scheduled for completion this summer. The administration said it plans a red‑ribbon cutting and a public ceremony when work is finished.
On the legal agenda, the board reappointed Nicholas Marra as treasurer and authorized the posting of the district safety plan for 30 days on the district website ahead of an August public hearing. The board also moved forward with several policy reviews that are on second review or for annual administrative review, including the student code of conduct and the student use-of-personal-electronic-devices policy, which remains under consideration.
The meeting included several motions carried by voice vote. Where abstentions were recorded, the board noted two abstentions on the administrative recommendations motion (Miss Capers and Miss Battle) and two abstentions on minutes approval.
Board business concluded with the board announcing its next meeting on Aug. 26, 2025, and adjourning.
