Sag Board Eyes Stella Maris
The Sag Harbor School Board hired an architectural firm at its meeting Monday night to do a “facility analysis” of the Stella Maris Regional School building. BBS Architects will receive $11,500 for the work, an extension of a contract it had been awarded on Aug. 31 for work on capital projects later this year.
The Stella Maris architectural study was among several noteworthy developments during the meeting, which included a decision to allow “gavel-to-gavel” videotaping of board meetings, an announcement that there would be a bonfire as part of this year’s homecoming, and an announcement of a $625,000 federal grant for efforts to prevent substance abuse among students.
Katy Graves, Sag Harbor’s superintendent, declined to comment before the board went into executive session about Stella Maris, citing only that the matter to be discussed was real estate. It was the third executive session since July 1 on real estate, which can take place legally behind closed doors if it involves specific financial matters. Stella Maris, a closed Catholic School in the village, has been listed for sale at $3.5 million.
By a unanimous vote, the board agreed to reverse last year’s policy against videotaping the public comment portions of the board’s meetings. Some board members previously had been concerned that the district could be held liable for defamatory public comments. However, during the board’s Aug. 31 meeting, Chris Tice, the board’s vice president, reported having received reliable opinion that was not the case.
During his report on Pierson Middle and High School, Jeff Nichols, the principal, announced that a decision to allow a bonfire at homecoming came out of a meeting last Thursday in which the new executive board of the Parent Teacher Student Association sought community opinion about homecoming and recruited volunteers. Pierson’s homecoming is set for Oct. 9 and 10, and will include a typical parade and skits, along with an in-school kickoff on the afternoon of Oct. 9, and several athletic contests.
Ms. Graves made the announcement of a five-year $625,000 grant from HUGS, the Help, Understanding, and Group Support agency, to the Sag Harbor Community Coalition. The money will help the coalition unite policymakers and practitioners in health, public safety, and education on the prevention of substance abuse and work with religious and community organizations.
It will “help shore up our children and our families to encourage our children not to use alcohol and other drugs,” Ms. Graves said, calling the grant “really exciting.” She noted that an attempt to win the grant failed last year but was successful this time because of the hard work of everyone involved.
In other business, the board tabled setting up several committees, citing the need for more parents and community members to get involved. The board is hoping to fill committees related to athletics, communications, facilities, and student health and wellness, among others. More information can be found on the school’s website at sagharborschools.org.