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Bellport resident urges board to prioritize early-childhood aides and preserve dual-language program
Summary
During public comment, Bellport resident Sandy Rose urged the board to prioritize extra classroom support for emergent readers and to protect the district's dual-language offerings; the Bellport Teachers Association also acknowledged two retirees.
A long-time Bellport resident told the South Country Central School District board she wants the next superintendent to value early-childhood expertise and classroom staffing that supports emergent readers.
"Our young emergent readers need the experience and they need extra hands in that classroom," Sandy Rose said in the meeting's public-comment period. Rose, a former preschool and school librarian who identified herself as a Brookhaven School grandparent and a supporter of the dual-language program, urged the board to hire a superintendent with classroom experience and an understanding of child development.
Rose described children in a dual-language kindergarten who spend half the day in English and half the day in Spanish and said the program builds long-term advantages for students. She also told trustees she was surprised to learn some classes are sharing a single classroom aide and recommended restoring or increasing aide support in primary grades.
Pat Brady, president of the Bellport Teachers Association, used his remarks to recognize retirees Donald Hanlon and Al Johnson and thanked them for longtime service to the community.
The board acknowledged the comments during closing remarks and moved on to retiree recognitions and executive session.
