The Garden City Board of Education ended the school year at its June 18th meeting by recognizing student achievement and saying farewell to Stewart School Principal Dr. Marie Braccia, who is retiring after 22 years in the district.

"I have been extremely blessed to be here, and I just wish Garden City continued success," she said.

Six students who won medals in the 2007 Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged were congratulated: Matthew Castellano, Michael Lynch, Grayce Nix and Colin Ripp. Members of the girls' lacrosse team, who won the state championship, were also applauded. School Board President Kenneth Monaghan also recognized K.C. Alvey, who won an art contest sponsored by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and is having her worked displayed in Albany, Steven Menelly, who won a young authors' contest, and Claire Beatty, Conor Donachie and Anthony Monaco, who won the "There Ought To Be a Law" contest.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen announced the names of three new members of the administrative team: Jean Ricotta, Locust School principal; Maxine Bogen, special education department coordinator for grades 6 through 12; and Jeannette Balantic, social studies department coordinator for grades 6 through 12.

Dr. Feirsen said the district is "on target" to fill 56 vacancies by its June 30th goal. The School Board approved a memorandum of agreement between the district and the Association of Garden City Public Schools Administrators. The agreement calls for a salary increase of 3.25 percent per year over four years and increased longevity payments. Dr. Feirsen said the district made gains in the area of health insurance.

The Board of Education approved the addition of a cyberbullying clause in the official code of conduct. Cyberbullying is defined in the code as "inflicting willful and/or repeated harm through the use of electronic text, threatening or harassing students or school personnel over the phone or e-mail, or using message boards to convey threats, derogatory comments or post pornographic pictures of students or school personnel."

K.C. Alvey, president of the Hope Environmental Club, said the school district lacks environmental awareness and called upon the Board to look into ways to help the environment by enforcing recycling, using more environmentally friendly cleaners and reducing waste. The issue should be integrated early in the curriculum so students learn at an early age the importance of protecting the environment.

Monaghan acknowledged that the district uses a lot of paper and should find ways to reduce and recycle. He said Dr. Feirsen, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Albert Chase, district coordinator of the science department for grades 6 through 12 Gail Bennington and high school Principal Dr. Frank Banta will meet with club members.