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Three Village residents vote down school budget once again

by Rita J. Egan - June 15, 2021

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In the Three Village school district, the $222.6 million budget did not pass a second time with a larger turnout.

On June 14, a district official said 2,027 voted in favor of the budget, while 3,211 rejected it.

Back in May, the budget did not pass (yes – 2,286, no – 1,677) as 60% approval was needed to approve the budget that pierced the 1.37% cap with a proposed tax levy increase of 1.85%.

The second rejection of the budget means the district now goes to a contingency budget and there will be no increase to the tax levy.

In a statement, Three Village school district officials said, “While disappointed in the defeat of the proposed budget, the district respects the voice of the community and the voter response received at the polls. In the coming days, the district will finalize a plan for our contingency budget that has the least impact on student programs and services.”

During an interview with The Village Times Herald in May, Jeff Carlson, deputy superintendent for business services, said if the budget failed it would mean a shortfall of about $3 million and that major construction or improvements to district property would not take place. He also said during the interview that it would not be disastrous and the district would “make it as painless as possible for the kids.” He also said the district would then use all of the federal money for the coming year. The district is receiving $1.85 million in federal aid, which is earmarked for COVID-related expenses.

National Grid Foundation partners with Vanderbilt Planetarium to offer astronomy education to high-needs schools

by Press Release - June 14, 2021

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unnamed-2 — Reichert Planetarium educator Erin Bennett teaches astronomy via Zoom. Vanderbilt photo

The National Grid Foundation (NGF) – a longtime partner of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and its STEM programs – has been essential to the Museum’s outreach efforts to high-needs schools on Long Island.

For nine years, NGF support has enabled the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium to take its highly regarded astronomy and science education programs into under-served schools – free of charge – and to serve more than 25,000 students.

The current 2020-2021 school year marks the third year in a row that NGF has supported the Exploring the Universe: Traveling Astronomy Program, taught by educators from the Museum’s Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium. Normally, they teach on-site in schools. This year, however, the educators traveled to schools virtually, live via Zoom. During the current school year, 1,685 students in more than 60 classes participated.

Dave Bush, director of the Reichert Planetarium, said, “We are happy to extend our professional expertise in the field of astronomy education to schools that would not otherwise be able to visit the Reichert Planetarium. Our goal is to provide quality programming that sparks curiosity, wonder, and excitement. Students who partake in our presentations are afforded highly engaging visuals and activities that leave lasting impressions.”

Exploring the Universe (ETU), developed and presented live by highly trained Vanderbilt science educators, immerses students in grades K-8 in an engaging astronomy course. An exciting multimedia presentation primes students to learn and inspires them to consider a variety of astronomy topics. ETU offers two live virtual programs, Space Adventure to the Moon and Exploring the Solar System.

Exploring the Universe is designed to offer educational experiences beyond the walls of the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium. Educators provide materials to help students learn and explore in greater detail the topics taught in the classroom. The program serves the communities and schools of Nassau and Suffolk counties to provide exciting learning experiences about the world of astronomy.

For more information, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Silly Hat Day at Goosehill Elementary a roaring success

by Press Release - June 10, 2021

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May 27 was Silly Hat Day at Goosehill Primary School in Cold Spring Harbor…and these kids did not disappoint – WOW! What innovative ideas and imagination, hopefully there was not a contest to win “best in show,” because it would be impossible to decide on a winner? Great job Goosehill students — we should have a hat parade in your honor!

Photos from CSHCSD

Old Field Montessori keeps Brookhaven beautiful

by TBR Staff - June 4, 2021

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Students, parents and teachers of the Montessori School at Old Field participated in the 13th annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup on May 15. “Everyone agreed that keeping the environment clean is always a worthy cause,” said Ditas Alcala, the school’s director. Photo from Old Field Montessori

Three Village school board gives failed budget a second try

by Rita J. Egan - June 4, 2021

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The Three Village Central School District Board of Education will put its rejected budget up for a second vote. At its May 25 meeting, the board elected to resubmit the failed budget unaltered for taxpayers’ approval.

“Since this is what the majority supported, this is what we should put forward,” said Jeff Carlson, deputy superintendent for business services, during a phone interview last week.

Although 57.7% of taxpayers voted in favor of the $222.6 million budget — 2,286-1,677 — it failed to pass. That was because the proposed budget pierced the 1.37% cap on the tax levy increase, necessitating a supermajority approval, or 60% of the vote, to pass.

The failed budget has a tax levy increase of 1.85%, which officials say would bring in an additional $777,000 in revenue and represents a tax levy difference of $58 per year for the average taxpayer.

“We want to get back on track” and position the district for long-term financial stability, Carlson said of the decision to pierce the cap.

After spending close to $7 million from district reserves to enable a full reopening last September, the district needs to start paying itself back. It has budgeted about $800,000 to do so in the coming year.

Carlson added that the district needs to have flexibility in its budget in case there is a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall. After a year of having schools open to all students every day, “we don’t want to go backward,” he said.

The district is receiving $1.85 million in federal aid, which is earmarked for COVID-related expenses. While some districts received much larger allocations and must spread out their spending, Three Village does not have such restrictions, Carlson said. District officials would like to use the money over the next two years. Carlson explained that a one-time use would create a gap in the budget that would then need to be filled in the following year.

If the budget fails again, there will be no increase to the tax levy. That would mean a shortfall of about $3 million and that major construction or improvements to district property would not take place. Carlson said during the interview that it would not be disastrous, and the district would “make it as painless as possible for the kids.” He also said the district would then use all of the federal money for the coming year.

Cuts would likely be made to some electives, and class sizes might increase on a district level, Carlson said. He added that funds budgeted for capital projects, which under a passed budget could only be used for building repairs and other maintenance and improvements, could be shifted to other areas of the budget.

“Our buildings are in good shape,” he said, and it would be better to put capital projects on hold for a year rather than adversely impact academic programs.

The budget hearing was due to be held Wednesday, June 2. The revote will take place, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, June 15, at Ward Melville High School located at 380 Old Town Road. The vote will take place in one location to make it easier for community members to know where to go, Carlson said.

Parents surprise Newfield theater cast with car parade

by TBR Staff - June 4, 2021

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MCCSD Addams Family Car Parade Image 3 — Cast members from the Newfield High School production of ‘The Addams Family.’ Photo from MCCSD

By Kimberly Brown

To celebrate the kickoff of Newfield High School’s live stream production of “The Addams Family,” parents and teachers surprised the cast and crew with a car parade.

The show will premiere on Saturday, June 5.

Rain didn’t stop people from surprising Newfield High School students last Saturday with a car parade.
Photo from MCCSD

Parents instructed the students who performed in the play to dress up in their costumes so they could take press release pictures. Little to their knowledge, what seemed to be an endless line of cars decorated with balloons, posters and pinatas waited outside.

“They thought it was strictly for publicity and had no idea there was going to be a parade like that,” said parent Sean Austin.

The production team brought a speaker, where music from the show played. Cast and crew members showcased one of their dances while the car parade circled the bus loop.

“Everyone’s really happy the play is finished,” Austin said. “I know it was a little bit of a weird process with the filming, since they had to perform scenes out of order, but in a way, it was good because if they messed up on a part so they could easily go back and redo it.”

Students and parents paid homage to chorus and theater arts director Joan Meichner, who was faced with the challenging task of putting together the production while still adhering to the changing COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

Cast members from the Newfield High School production of ‘The Addams Family.’
Photo from MCCSD

“From the time the show was cast, to the time we were in production and filming, the COVID guidelines and regulations had changed several times,” Meichner said. “The students in the show handled all of these changes with unparalleled grace, excellence and enthusiasm.”

Despite the obstacles, giving the students a production they are proud to be a part of is the only goal Meichner hoped to achieve.

“I am certain that we accomplished that, and the growing excitement as we eagerly await our premiere is inspiring,” Meichner said.

Cold Spring Harbor Schools hosts Locks of Love event

by Press Release - June 3, 2021

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On May 19, the Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High Locks of Love Club held their annual event for the 18^th year. Participants donated their hair “safely outside” this year at The Look Spa (on Gate Street in Greenlawn) for their Locks of Love haircut, spearheaded by club advisor, Ms. Kathleen Fristensky.

It takes 15 ten-inch pony tails to create just one hairpiece for a child suffering from long term hair loss due to alopecia areata or cancer. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge, or on a sliding scale, based on financial need. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under 18 in the US and Canada.

Advisor, Ms. Fristensky, has donated her hair eight times to date! A debt of thanks went out to Doreen Guarneri, owner of The Look Spa, who opened her doors to CSH Jr./Sr. High, thrilled to participate in this important cause. Francesco Martiniello, of Island Silkscreen, graciously designed and donated all the tee shirts as he does every year. T

he entire club continues to fundraise and bring awareness to this organization each year. Thank you to Principal, Dr. Bolen, for coming out to support this event, and thank you to this year’s four participants for this selfless act of kindness: Senora Kathleen Fristensky (8th time!), Teacher Assistant, Lauren Blackburn (8^th time!), Eva Baudo and Logan Vitagliano. Your selfless act of bravery will help provide a hairpiece for some children out there who thank you, more than you will ever know!

WMHO connects students through virtual learning

by Rita J. Egan - June 3, 2021

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Ward Melville Heritage Organization trustees wave to the students. Photo by Rita J. Egan

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization has created a virtual bridge across the Long Island Sound for students on both sides of the waterway.

Patricia Paladines holds a horseshoe crab up to show the students who viewed the presentation through Zoom. Photo by Rita J. Egan

On Tuesday, June 1, WMHO unveiled Long Island Sound Connections, its new STEM and conservation program at the Erwin J. Ernst Marine Conservation Center on Trustees Road by West Meadow Creek. Students from Selden and Bridgeport, Connecticut, participated from their classrooms via Zoom, while WMHO trustees members and grant donors looked on from the center. Dr. Robert Park from the Fullwood Foundation, one of the donors, also joined virtually.

Students from Selden Middle School in Michelle Miller’s sixth-grade science class and Julianne Biagioli’s seventh-grade science class in the Bridgeport school district discussed their studies in the June 1 presentation. The students were able to show how urban and suburban communities have contrasting situations, where the Selden students have the 88-acre preserved wetlands of West Meadow Creek only miles away from them, and the Bridgeport students live in a city where former wetlands were developed decades ago.

The organization’s virtual, cooperative learning is led by Deborah Boudreau, WMHO’s director of education.

“It’s an opportunity for students to research their local Long Island ecosystems, and share what they learned about those ecosystems to learn how we can best preserve all the animals and plants that depend on these ecosystems,” Boudreau said.

She told the students during the June 1 class that the teachers wanted to hear from them as much as possible.

“I want to say that this program is very much about the students and your data and your research and your ideas,” she said. “You are the future of our wetlands. You are the ones that are going to carry that forward.”

During the presentation, students compared findings about the wetlands as well as species that would normally be found in waterways including lobsters and horseshoe crabs, which Bridgeport students found recently in mudflats.

Naturalist and environmentalist Patricia Paladines, from Setauket, was on hand to provide a presentation on horseshoe crabs for the students. She found one in West Meadow Creek June 1 that was injured and explained it would heal. Paladines told students, while holding the crab for them to see, that a lot of people are afraid of its long tail, but it doesn’t sting.

“A lot of people are afraid of them because they have this long tail here, which is called a telson, but it’s not to hurt you — it’s not to protect itself, it’s a rudder,” she said, adding that the tail was moving at the time because the crab wanted to turn over from its back to being right-side up.

The program will continue throughout the month with various schools participating where they will compare and contrast data such as water salinization, marine species inventory and more.

Gloria Rocchio, WMHO president, said the program was made possible by grants from the Fullwood Foundation, Investors Foundation and Teachers Federal Credit Union.

PJ Middle School hosts chamber music at Harborfront Park

by Julianne Mosher - June 3, 2021

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pjms 2, julianne mosher — Photo by Julianne Mosher

After more than a year of Zoom performances, practices and canceled events, the Port Jefferson School District decided to utilize a stage in their own backyard and hold their first in-person recital since the start of the pandemic.

“It was very nice to see everyone in front of us after such a long period of time,” said eighth-grader Christopher Lotten. “It made me feel more comfortable to play in front of a live audience. It was a great experience to play in front of everyone — instead of listening to our music through a computer screen, we got to listen to it on a stage.”

The Chamber Festival 2021 took place at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson village on May 27 where students showcased compositions by Bach, Haydn, Pleyel, Hudson, Sherwin and Müller-Rusch.

The Port Jefferson Middle School grades 7 and 8 string orchestra used the opportunity to adapt to the uniqueness of this past school year, and during the second semester, students were given the opportunity to form their own ensembles and select their chamber piece to work on and perform.

“Chamber music promotes creativity and allows students to work collaboratively with their peers,” said orchestra teacher Vanessa Salzman. “It is a wonderful way to improve musician-ship while building valuable social and musical connections.”

At just after 11 a.m., family and friends set up their lawn chairs and blankets in front of the stage built back in 2019 to honor Port Jefferson resident Jill Nees-Russell.

“It was interesting to play in front of a live audience again,” said eighth-grader Ash Patterson. “I have always enjoyed playing in front of people, even if I do get nervous that I’ll mess up be-fore I have to perform. I felt that when I had to record our orchestral pieces, it was less real. There was no audience to motivate me to play well. It was a lot less exciting than playing live, and just turned into a tedious task for me.”

Family and friends listened to the PJMS chamber students perform at Harborfront Park last week. Photo by Julianne Mosher

Eight groups of performers grabbed their strings and took to the small wooden performance area that Salzman described as “a picture-perfect venue.”

Mari Fukuto, a seventh-grader, said Thursday’s performance was a nice change of scenery.

“It felt strange,” she said. “But it was nice not having to record it, the scene also made the experience better.”

Seventh-grader Lia Donohue said performing outside for her family and friends was a special moment.

“It made the experience special knowing that everyone was there live, and taking photos like last year,” she said. “Not only for us was the experience special, but for all of the spectators watching, because they didn’t need to try to figure out how to put our performance on their screen at home.”

Mehana Levy, a seventh-grader, agreed.

“Playing in front of people again was a little nerve racking at first but, once I got on the stage, it felt a little more like before COVID, and reminded me why I chose to play in the first place.”

Overall, with sunny skies and warm weather, Salzman said it was a great day.

“After a long hiatus from live performance, the support of the village hosting us and the parents and community who showed up to cheer us on made for a special and memorable day for our students,” she said.

West Side School team announced as semi-finalists in I Am EM-powered contest

by Press Release - June 2, 2021

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0-1 — Photo courtesy of Cold Spring Harbor CSD

West Side School in the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District has announced that a team of 6th graders, under the guidance of Ms. Piña, were chosen as semi-finalists in the I Am EM-powered Public Service Announcement contest sponsored by PSEG. The West Side video submissions mostly centered around the topic of energy efficiency and environmental conservation; many offering up alternatives and thoughtful slogans to make their statement to the community more aware of these issues. The student challenge contest was open to grades 4 to 8 throughout Long Island. Out of 207 videos submitted, 10 earned a “Finalist” designation, and 25 were recognized as “Semi-finalists.”

Ms. Piña shared, “I am so impressed with all of our sixth graders who worked hard on researching their own topics, thoughtfully building scripts, and creatively implementing these in video and editing. I believe that our semi-finalists from 6P landed this honor due to their originality and dedication in creating a stop-motion PSA with a thoughtful message, ‘Do What’s Right and Turn off the Light.'” Congratulations to the student team of Phoebe Talamas, Camryn Woodworth, Audrey Davidian West, and Serena Glantz!

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