The East Meadow Board of Education recognized district administrators, their staff and retiring staff members at their meeting on June 16.

First, each building principal, along with Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Kristi Detor, was introduced by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Card. Then, Board of Education President Mr. Matthew Melnick and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administration Mr. Anthony Russo commended the administrators on their steadfast devotion to their students and staff during this past year.  

“Truthfully, the world threw a pandemic at you and you didn’t flinch,” Mr. Melnick said. “In fact, you took every regulation, rule and guidance with grace and did incredible things to offer the best possible education to our students this year.”

Additionally, administrators Parkway Elementary School Principal Jamie Mack and Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Patrice Dobies were honored for their years of committed and excellent work for the district. Both outstanding administrators will be retiring at the end of the year. 

“Thank you both, for the times when the most difficult of situations were solved because of your expertise and depth of understanding,” Dr. Card said. “Thank you for caring, for always being there and most of all, thank you both for just being you.”

The East Meadow Board of Education began a new school year with many familiar faces. Re-elected board members Eileen Napolitano and Melissa Tell were sworn in for new terms at the annual reorganization meeting on July 6.

The board selected Alisa Baroukh as president for the 2021-2022 school year, and Matthew Melnick as vice president. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth A. Card Jr. also took his oath, solidifying his commitment to serving the district. Additionally, Jeanne Puma was appointed for another term as district clerk and will also assume the role of treasurer.

Dr. Patrick Pizzo, assistant superintendent for business, then took to the podium to honor Director of Technology, JoAnne Naccarato, for her successful roll out of the district’s new 1:1 technology initiative.

“On behalf of central administration and the board, thank you for the work you have done for our district,” he said. “Ms. Naccarato was key in keeping our work moving forward over the past 16 months.”

Superintendent Dr. Card then honored Veronica Nicastro for her two years of service as the PTA Council President.

“Although the pandemic slowed the pace of normal business of the PTA Council, you and your members took on the challenges and made the best of a difficult situation,” Dr. Card said.

Both Ms. Naccarato and Ms. Nicastro were presented with plaques commemorating their years of work for the East Meadow School District.

Barnum Woods Elementary School fourth grader Amelie Cao and Bowling Green Elementary School fifth graders Ishveen Kaur and Harrison Baek were recently accepted into the prestigious Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented students at SUNY College at Old Westbury.

After a rigorous entrance exam, they performed in the top one-tenth of 1% of mathematics students on their grade level. These students will develop their mathematical prowess during their 60 hours in class and involvement in related projects.