School Board Meeting News
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

William T. Marr

The Garden City Board of Education attended to several matters at its August 13th meeting.

The Board approved the appointment of William T. Marr as assistant principal at the Middle School. A former Marine sergeant, Marr's last positions were as district coordinator of student and staff health, safety and security, dean of students and science teacher at Island Trees Memorial Middle School in Levittown. He received a master's degree in technological systems management from SUNY Stony Brook and a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies with minors in biology and secondary education from St. John's University.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen announced that Joseph Papa will assist Stratford School Principal Diane Hopkins while Assistant Principal Susan Guiliano is on maternity leave.

Fino Celano, assistant superintendent for personnel, said there were 62 openings in the district this summer. This number includes part-time, full-time and temporary leave positions. Sixteen teachers retired, 13 teachers resigned at the end of the school year and 21 teachers are on leave. There are currently two full-time openings and one part-time opening that needs to be filled. Celano said the district received two unexpected resignations last week.

Albert Chase, assistant superintendent for business and finance, gave a progress report on construction projects. He expects the dry wells to be open soon so that the new Middle School fields can be irrigated. Once well approval is received, the district will accept delivery of the sod, and then install back stops and fences. The fence along Stewart Avenue will be installed the last week of August.

Roofing projects at Hemlock and the Middle School are almost complete. The replacement of a wall in the transportation garage has been completed. The lighting has been replaced in the High School auditorium and a special education room has been added in the Middle School.