March Board of Education Synopsis

At the March 10 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sharon A. Dungee announced the two Scripps Spelling Bee finalists, who were recognized with certificates of achievement by Board of Education President Luis Alcantara, Vice President Debra Cavanagh, and Board members Mrs. Michele Harriott, Mr. Glenn C. Mitchell, Mr. Jim Musumeci, Mr. Ralph Delgado Jr., and Mrs. Maureen Esposito.

O'Neill Elementary School Principal Mrs. Kristine LoCascio introduced O'Neill Elementary's Spelling Bee winner, Kenneth Gaydon, while Cordello Elementary School Principal Dr. Nathaniel Marner introduced Cordello Elementary's Spelling Bee winner, Diego Zuniga Ortiz.

Dr. Dungee and the Board of Education also recognized Islip Bulletin Executive Editor Nicole Fuentes with a plaque for the publication's excellence in news coverage of Central Islip Schools. Ms. Fuentes provided a brief history of the four-generation, family-owned news publication, which operates under the flagship paper, the Long Island Advance. Dr. Dungee praised Ms. Fuentes for the Islip Bulletin's fair and consistent reporting. In response, Ms. Fuentes expressed her commitment to continuing coverage of Central Islip Schools in the Islip Bulletin.

Also at the meeting, upon Dr. Dungee's recommendation, the Board of Education unanimously appointed Brian M. Deaner as the district's director of guidance.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Alfano School multipurpose room, located at 50 Wheeler Road, Central Islip, NY 11722.