Enrollment Keeps Growing

During Monday night’s Springs School Board meeting, the board swiftly tackled business related to the start of school.

Eric Casale, the principal, provided updated enrollment numbers. As of last week, 735 students were enrolled in prekindergarten to grade eight, with 26 more currently being registered. At 761 students, such an enrollment would put Springs at 25 more students than at the start of school last year, and 70 more students than two years ago.

The number of students from Springs attending the upper grades at East Hampton High School continues to grow as well. All told, there are 76 more children attending pre-K to 12th grade than at the same time last year.

Mr. Casale also addressed the recent release of statewide English and math scores. “The scores don’t reflect exactly what we want as of yet, but it’s still a transitional period and the test scores will reflect that,” Mr. Casale said early yesterday, citing a similar performance as compared to last year’s scores in English, with a slight increase in math. “They’re still not where we want them to be, but they’re headed in the right direction.”

In staff news, the board hired Carl Fraser to provide services to the district superintendent related to financial operations. Elizabeth Mendelman, the board president, explained that Mr. Fraser would work with the district on a temporary assignment from now until June. Mr. Fraser formerly was East Islip’s assistant superintendent for business. His pay is a per diem rate of $700. As a retiree, he is capped at working 42 days or earning $30,000 each calendar year.

Also, Laura Foti, a math teacher, will help provide additional academic intervention services.

Before adjourning, the board accepted a donation from the Jewish Federations of North America, a philanthropic organization based in New York City, of 60 backpacks filled with grade-specific supplies. All of the backpacks have already been distributed to students in need.

The board will next meet on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.