By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Outgoing Board of Education President Kenneth J. Monaghan, who has served on the Garden City Board of Education since 1999, and Veronica Agostinelli, secretary to the superintendent, who is retiring after 23 years of service. The Garden City Board of Education and administrators ended the school year by saying farewell to Veronica Agostinelli, school board and Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen's secretary; Kenneth J. Monaghan, school board president; and Dr. Francis Banta, Garden City High School interim principal.

Agostinelli is retiring after 23 years of working for the school district. Dr. Feirsen said during that time she became the unofficial school district historian after attending and taking notes at innumerable board of education meetings.

"We are losing someone who is truly one of the unsung heroes of the school district," Dr. Feirsen said.

School Board President Kenneth J. Monaghan is stepping down after nine years, having served eight of them as president. He said he has been asked to remain a member of the board's audit committee due to his finance background. He said he doesn't know how long he'll stay, but it most likely will not be for more than a few years.

"I would like to thank the administration and my fellow members of the board for your support and encouragement over the last nine years," Monaghan said. "I would like to thank those of you who regularly attend [board meetings]. The questions have sometimes been very stimulating. This has not always been fun, but it has generally always been rewarding."

Dr. Feirsen presented Monaghan with a legislative resolution adopted by the New York Senate on June 11th recognizing his school board service. "It is a key, from my point of view, to any district's success to have that blend of interest between the Board of Education, the community, and the faculty, staff and administration, and we have it," Dr. Feirsen said. "In large part it is due to your outstanding wisdom, your professionalism, your insight, your great eloquence and your diplomacy."

Garden City resident Mort Yuter, who is a regular attendee at board meetings, utilized the time allotted for public commentary during the meeting to commend Monaghan. "He has done an outstanding job...He has been very verbal, very intelligent, very perceptive and just a great, great president."

Dr. Frank Banta is leaving after serving two years as interim principal at the high school. The new principal, Nanine Cuttitta, will begin on July 1st. Dr. Feirsen said the district was very fortunate that Dr. Banta took the position two years ago when the district was faced with a "leadership vacuum in a very key position." Dr. Feirsen said Dr. Banta has been a "source of tremendous stability, great insight, great leadership, and great sensitivity to the needs of the community."

"In two years, he has truly made his mark on all of the students, families and staff and the community at large," he said.

Agostinelli, Monaghan and Banta were honored at a reception held prior to the meeting.