The Garden City Board of Education held its annual organization meeting on July 6th.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen welcomed Teresa Prendergast, who replaces Dr. Marylou McDermott as the district's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Prendergast formerly worked in the Lynbrook School District.

Since Dr. Nancy Fredericks stepped down in June after serving on the Board of Education for eight years, Board members voted trustee Colleen Foley as vice president and welcomed Laura Brown, who ran unopposed for the pending open trustee position in May.

School Board President Kenneth Monaghan said the Board is still reviewing bids to rehabilitate the Middle School fields and may have to hold a special meeting this month. John Powell, assistant superintendent for business and finance, announced that the district plans to close on the bond for the purchase of the Middle School fields on July 20th and go to closing with the Cathedral on July 21st.

Dr. Feirsen congratulated the class of 2006 and applauded all of those people who worked to make the ceremony a success. Due to inclement weather, the ceremony had to be moved indoors to the gymnasium. A closed-circuit television was set up in the auditorium for guests. Dr. Feirsen acknowledged that they will work on having better air cooling systems available in the future.

Dr. Feirsen said one of his biggest priorities since beginning as superintendent last August was to hire the best people and accelerate the hiring process. He is proud that the district filled all vacancies by their self-established June 30th deadline. This does not include resignations which were handed into the district after that date.

Starting in September, the college writing center at the high school will go back to its original incarnation, as a supplement rather than a scheduled activity. The district will try to expand opportunities for students to visit the center, according to Dr. Feirsen. They are considering opening the center early and keeping it open later after school. The district also hopes to focus more on peer assistance and recruit more peer responders to review writing.

School Board President Monaghan said the writing center is critical and the Board has always been willing to find money in the budget to make it run more effectively.

Dr. Feirsen proudly displayed a recent New York Times article highlighting the high school's pre-prom reception. He said he hopes that it established a great tradition for the future.

Cafeteria renovations at the Middle and High Schools began on June 26th. Both jobs will be completed by September. Powell assured that new, healthier menu offerings will be available.

Roof resurfacing will begin at the Middle School and Homestead in two to three weeks. Hemlock School will also have its roof resurfaced. All jobs will be completed by September.

Responding to queries from PTA first vice president Angela Heineman, Fino Celano, assistant to the superintendent, said the district will continue monitoring enrollment numbers, especially at Locust, but he does not expect it to be over district guidelines.