Representing 900+ combined years of service, 39 Riverhead school district faculty and staff are retiring

Thirty-nine retiring Riverhead Central School District employees were recognized by the Board of Education at its meeting last night, its last regularly scheduled meeting of the 2015-2016 school year. The 39 retirees represent more than 900 combined years of service to the district.

The large number of staff and faculty retirees has allowed the district to stay within a very low tax cap increase of .12 percent. The district approved a retirement incentive plan at the Jan. 12 Board of Education meeting.

Board members gave special recognition to Jenny Corbin, who retires this month after 42 years of service for the district at Pulaski Street School.

The retirees recognized:
• Donna Atkins – Senior Clerk Typist – 30 years
• John Barona – Special Education Teacher – 19 years
• Joan Becht – School Nurse – 18 years
• Patricia Boardman – Special Education Aide – 13 years
• Linda Bornstein – Elementary Teacher – 20 years
• Dorice Brown – School Bus Driver – 27 years
• Keith Brown – Head Custodian – 35 years
• Amala Cain – Supervisor of Transportation – 6 years
• Debra Cato – Secretarian Assistant – 16 years
• Karen Cerino – Speech Teacher – 29 years
• Suzanne Convery – Special Education Teacher – 30 years
• Jenny Lou Corbin – School Teacher Aide – 42 years
• Raymond Crump – Custodial Worker –20 years
• Jeanne D’Alsace – Senior Clerk Typist – 15 years
• Sandra Doroski – Food Service Worker –28 years
• Margaret Eilers – Elementary Teacher – 28 years
• Laura Feureman – Elementary Teacher – 24 years
• Donald Frobey – Elementary Teacher – 20 years
• Toni Gallo – Teaching Assistant – 31 years
• Robert Gilliam – Custodial Worker I – 27 years
• Laura Goode – School Nurse –21 years
• Deborah Hermann – Reading Teacher – 14 years
• Karen Ivins – Elementary Teacher – 33 years
• Catherine Kent – Elementary Teacher – 33 years
• Carole Kirchoff – Special Education Teacher – 17 years
• Jay Lebowitz – Art Teacher – 23 years
• Carol MacQuarrie – Spanish Teacher – 14 years
• Anthony Madonia – Custodial Worker I – 13 years
• Frances Marsicovetere – ESL Teacher – 13 years
• Peter McCarthy – Senior Naval Science Instructor – 13 years
• David McKillop – Social Studies Teacher – 34 years
• Frank Minucci – English Teacher – 28 years
• John Nobile – School Psychologist – 30 years
• Judith Rosica – ESL Teacher – 30 years
• Robert Schilling – Elementary Teacher – 30 years
• Susan Trafford – Elementary Teacher – 29 years
• Brenda Tuttle – School Librarian – 13 years
• Kim Ulmet – Special Education Teacher – 30 years
• Cynthia Woschnik – Special Education Teacher – 35 years

Additionally the board recognized 12 faculty members who have earned tenure:

• David Wicks – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
• Charles Regan – High School Principal
• Sean O’Hara – High School Assistant Principal
• Maria Casamassa – Director of English Language Arts
• Luke Ferland – Industrial Arts /Technology Education Teacher
• Lindsy Fuhs – Special Education Teacher
• Heather Haralambous – Special Education Teacher
• Charles Kitz – Special Education Teacher
• Lisa Nappe – Elementary Teacher
• Uta Mocniak-Field – School Psychologist
• Amanda Ryan – Special Education Teacher
• Meghan Scully – Elementary Teacher

Budget transfers questioned
Aquebogue resident Yolanda Thompson, questioned the board regarding budget transfers approved during the meeting asking why the agenda lists budget transfers using codes rather than naming the accounts, an issue which Thompson has questioned at previous meetings.

Board president Susan Koukounas said using codes is standard practice, noting that “everyone uses the code.”

Thompson expressing frustration and stated she would FOIL the codes.

“I shouldn’t have to do that,” Thompson said, “I shouldn’t even have to come to the podium and ask what they’re for, I should be able to read it in the agenda and understand how our money is being spent.”

Key Club ‘Going Green’
High school Key Club members Sarah Brennan, president, and Cathryn Farrell, secretary, presented certificates the Key Club was awarded by the Riverhead Town Board for Going Green.

Key Club students who participate in Going Green traveled after classes to each of the elementary schools to teach third-graders lessons in waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

School Safety Plan presented
The school district presented the first reading of the School Safety Plan and Teams at last night’s board meeting. Once the plan has been presented at three board meetings and has been approved, the finalized plan will be posted on the district’s website.