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Superintendent highlights construction, Unity Day and bus-monitor hiring; senior praises phone ban
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Delia updated the board on construction at Memorial and Walt Whitman High School, plans for outdoor classrooms, Unity Day honorees, and ongoing recruitment for bus monitors; a senior student, Lucy, told the board the new phone policy has been going well and described NBC interviews about school lunch and arts awards.
Superintendent Dr. Delia told the South Huntington Union Free School District board on Sept. 3 that the district had a productive start to the school year and provided several operational updates.
Dr. Delia said teachers attended building-based conference days prior to student arrival, and praised visiting presenter Jerry Brooks for sessions that staff described as memorable. She reported visits to all school buildings on the first student days, described ongoing construction work — including boiler work at Walt Whitman High School and extensive renovations at Memorial — and said the district expects some projects to be completed by next spring. The district is also installing outdoor classrooms at several elementary schools.
On staffing, Dr. Delia said the district is actively recruiting bus monitors. She said only one bus monitor has been secured so far, but additional interviews are scheduled and the board’s goal is to reach about 10 hires to gather sufficient data for an end-of-year report.
Dr. Delia announced Unity Day on Sept. 13 and named three honorees: Ron Wilson (a dean at a neighboring Huntington school), community leader Betty Miller, and district staff member Ray Spadafora. She encouraged community participation in the event.
A senior who identified herself as Lucy addressed the board about student life. Lucy said a new phone policy requiring students to store phones in lockers is being accepted by students, with only minor separation anxiety reported, and she predicted the policy will improve focus and academic concentration. She also noted that she and other students were interviewed by NBC regarding the phone policy and school lunch; she suggested adding board games in cafeterias for colder weather so students have options for interaction during indoor lunch periods. Lucy and another student were also recognized as Long Island Scholar-Artist award recipients and will be featured in Newsday.
The superintendent closed noting routine operational hiccups were being corrected and thanking staff across departments for a coordinated start to the year.
