East Rockaway board honors retirees, installs PTA officers and approves consent agenda

The East Rockaway Board of Education convened at 7:03 p.m. on June 16, 2026, and opened its meeting by recognizing students and staff before taking up routine business. The board honored three longtime employees who are retiring, installed officers for the Centre Avenue, Raymond Avenue and East Rockaway High School PTAs, accepted several community donations, and approved minutes and a consent agenda by voice vote.

High school principal Mr. Shafer introduced the district’s valedictorian and salutatorian. Charlotte Webster, the valedictorian, will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study biology; salutatorian Victoria Shafer plans to study biology with a pre‑med focus at Molloy College. Neither student was present at the meeting.

The board paid tribute to three retirees. Raymond Avenue staff member Mike Cohen was praised for decades of dependable service and for involvement in summer programming and school events. Teacher aide Linda Linsley was thanked for years of one‑on‑one and small‑group student support. Custodian Alex Laveras was recognized for 39 years of service across district buildings; colleagues recalled his long commitment to the schools.

The board then conducted its annual PTA installation. Officers introduced included Susanna Tierney, Maria Fusco and Bridget Shemo, among others, who were presented flowers as part of a ceremonial installation. Board members emphasized the PTA’s volunteer role and encouraged families to participate in school activities.

Donations acknowledged during the meeting included $978.68 from the Raymond Avenue PTA to support sixth‑grade yearbook and classroom programs and a separate $1,879 donation for a gaga pit; $1,200 to the student activity fund from parents of the class of 2028; $2,000 from East Rockaway Club Rock for the football program; and $150 from Kimberly Elliott for the baseball program.

Student ex‑officio member Sophia Ferco delivered a year‑end report highlighting academic and extracurricular achievements. She told the board that "serving in this role has shown me how much time and effort you invest behind the scenes often without the recognition you deserve," and highlighted that approximately 75 graduating seniors earned the Seal of Biliteracy this year and that elementary reading growth was reflected in recent i‑Ready diagnostics.

On legislative matters the board approved routine business items. A motion to approve the minutes of the May 19 special meeting and the May 27 regular meeting was moved and approved by voice vote. The board created a consent agenda covering the superintendent’s recommended personnel schedules (items 4A–I), other listed agenda items (5A–M), CSE/CPSE recommendation 6A, and budget transfers (7A), and then voted to accept the consent agenda. Board members voiced their approval; the minutes indicate the motions were adopted by the board without roll‑call tallies recorded in the meeting transcript.

Superintendent Mr. DiTomasso reported on district initiatives including a mental health awareness month in partnership with Cohen Children’s Medical Center, athletic qualifiers for state track events, a revamped varsity sports awards dinner, and transition programming such as onboarding sixth graders to the Schoolinks college‑and‑career platform. He also noted project work in AP Computer Science where students built websites and apps for local businesses.

The meeting concluded with brief board member comments, congratulations to retirees and PTA officers, and condolences offered to a family member of a district employee. The board adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

Votes at a glance: minutes approved (motion recorded and approved by voice vote); consent agenda created and accepted (motion recorded and approved by voice vote); meeting adjourned (approved by voice vote). Specific roll‑call tallies were not shown in the transcript.