Busy School Board Session

At a sparsely attended meeting Tuesday night, the East Hampton School Board discussed enrollment, programs for English language learners, and went over plans to fill the open seat on the board and school lunches, as it had at its last meeting, Sept. 2.

Richard Burns, the district superintendent, said enrollment was holding steady. “It’s a fluid time, with lots of movement back and forth,” he said. The John M. Marshall Elementary School has 625 students, with 352 students at East Hampton Middle School, and 856 at the high school. Elizabeth Reveiz, who directs the district’s English as a second language program, noted that those figures do not include 30 English language learners, who are new to the district and still being assessed for placement.

Ms. Reveiz said a family literacy class, geared toward non-English speaking parents, was again planned for the fall, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Each group will meet twice-weekly for 15 weeks at a cost of $5 per class. A different workshop, devoted to budgeting and accounting, is also planned for district residents. Those interested can register during school hours or between 6 and 7 p.m. next Tuesday in her office at the high school.

The seat on the board vacated by Patricia Hope in the summer drew attention when J.P. Foster, the board president, clarified what he called recent confusion over a stated preference for someone to apply who has a “financial background, including accounting, municipal finance, and budgeting.”

“It’s not a mandate,” Mr. Foster said. “I want to make sure that’s conveyed to the public.” Nomination letters are due to the district office by Oct. 1. As of yesterday morning, no one had applied, according to Kerri Stevens, the district clerk. The board will make an appointment, which will last until June of next year.

As reported on Sept. 2, since implementing a swipe-card system called NutriKids last year for foods served to students, the district had discovered that it was owed nearly $17,000, and that several students had continued to charge lunches and snacks long after prepaid cards had a zero balance. Following numerous phone calls and letters to parents, Mr. Burns said the outstanding balance, which had been $6,300 when school opened this month, is now down to $2,400. He said the program was still being fine-tuned, and that social workers were helping recoup the owed money. However, money is still owed for about 100 students throughout the district, with Mr. Burns estimating that more than $100 is owed for 15 students and $50 or more for another 20 or 30 students.

Until the matter is resolved or a payment plan established, such students are not eligible to receive hot lunches. According to the district website, they have a choice of either a bagel and cream cheese or peanut butter and jelly or cheese sandwiches. They also are barred from charging for snacks, like cookies or muffins. “A partial payment will surely satisfy us,” Mr. Burns said, nothng that some families had opted for a $5-a-month payment plan. As for free or reduced-price lunches, families that qualify are being urged to apply, with forms due back by Oct. 17.

In other news, the board approved a contract with Charles Westergard as a network systems administrator for the coming year at an annual salary of $140,992. It also approved the appointment of Erin Garvey as a secondary math replacement teacher from now until Nov. 7 at a per diem rate of $262. James Bannon was hired as a new middle school technology teacher at an annual salary of $42,028, and Michael Buquicchio as a library media specialist at an annual salary of $52,535. The board also approved a paid leave for Gina Kraus, an elementary teacher, from Sept. 29 until Dec. 19. Lastly, an annual contract for LitLife, a professional development program related to literacy, was also approved, for $30,000.

Before adjourning the meeting, Stephen Grossman, an attorney, emphatically asked that full-day pre-kindergarten be funded. The district now provides a half-day program at the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center. “The best way to improve achievement is to invest in students when they’re young,” Mr. Grossman said.

Sharing his sentiment, Arthur Grossman, a teacher at the high school, similarly urged: “I hope you’ll take a look at it for the next year.”