The United States Department of Educationbelieves that the years before children enterkindergarten are among the most critical of theirlives when it comes to learning. Eastern Suffolk BOCESK-12 Literacy Coordinator Dr. Roberta Senzer of theLong Island Regional School Support Center (LIRSSC)in Holbrook agrees. Recently she and her staffauthored a grant application titled Bridges to Literacy,designed to prepare three- and four-year-old preschoolchildren, especially those from low-income families, forentrance into public schools. According to Dr. Senzer,“We believe that teacher professional development isthe key to establishing such centers, and in our projectliteracy coaches are the primary means through whichprofessional development is provided.”

Several weeks ago, Congressman Tim Bishopannounced that a $3.2 million grant had been awardedto Eastern Suffolk BOCES for Bridges to Literacy.

language, cognitive, and early reading abilities in theareas of oral language, phonological awareness, printawareness, and alphabet knowledge. Coordinatedwith teacher education programs at St. John’sUniversity, St. Joseph’s College, and C.W. Post LongIsland University, professional development will bebased on a three-tiered philosophy: (1) enhancedteacher knowledge of scientifically-based reading andchild development research leading to (2) improvedclassroom language and literacy instruction that willlead to (3) results in higher language and literacyachievement of children.

The project will offer online and distance educationopportunities including the New York State EducationDepartment’s Reading Academy and tuitionassistance at the partner universities. The institutionsof higher education will play a key role inimplementing the program. �

Long Island’s multicultural diversity was the topicof a study, essay contest, and banquetcelebration at Hofstra University, which alsosucceeded in raising funds for research into diversity-related issues.

According to the National Center for SuburbanStudies (NCSS) at Hofstra University, the suburbshave emerged as the nexus of dynamic demographic,social, economic, and environmental change in NewYork. NCSS Executive Director Lawrence Levy saysthat the Island’s diversity “is the key to its social andeconomic survival.”

Suffolk and Nassau County Executives Steve Levyand Tom Suozzi agree, adding that to make diversitywork, education must be the key to unlock the doorsof intolerance and hatred that hinder future success.In an effort to help unlock those doors, Eastern

Suburban Diversity Is Essay Topic

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 138

Patchogue, N.Y. 11772

Eastern Suffolk BOCES201 Sunrise HighwayPatchogue, New York 11772

(continued on page 4)

Suffolk BOCES joined Hofstra in co-sponsoring anessay competition on Long Island diversity, seekinginput from the very people who stand to benefit themost from harmonious co-existence. The first, second,and third place winning entries highlighted theadvantages of living in multicultural communities. Allthree referred to the two counties as being richer forit, shining like a lighthouse beacon on the proverbialAmerican quilt.

First place winner Marisa Su, a Garden City tenthgrader, referred to peaceful co-existence leading toworld peace, adding, “Without the widely rangingcultures that exist around me, I would have beenmolded into a girl living in a metaphoric bubble, andunfortunately, blind to the blossoming society outsideof the shiny, protective shell.”

Second and third place winners, Bay Shore ninth

“Educating our young people is one of the mostimportant responsibilities,” said the Congressman. “Iapplaud the ongoing efforts of ESBOCES to prepare ourchildren to succeed in school so they can succeed in life.”

The program is designed to transform preschoolclassrooms into centers of excellence in four LongIsland school districts and Long Island Head Startprograms served by the LIRSSC. The four districts areCentral Islip UFSD, Hempstead UFSD, South CountryCSD, and Wyandanch UFSD. A variety of factors,including inconsistencies in the level of disparity inearly education, reveal troublesome gaps in thepreparation and abilities of the young children.Bridges to Literacy will level the playing field.

A key component of the plan is professionaldevelopment focused on effective teaching, coaching,and mentoring in support of the teachers. Training willcenter around scientifically-based reading research on

Pictured at the banquet are (left to right) Dr. Evelyn Holman,Bay Shore Superintendent of Schools, third place essaywinner Kwaku Owusu, Bay Shore High School PrincipalRobert Pashkin, and second place winner Tim Batura.They’re shown with oversized checks of $1,000 for the secondplace essay and $500 for the third. First place winner MarisaSu received $3,000.

Federal Grant Awarded to Bridges to Literacy for Area’s Preschoolers

“We are very excited about having the opportunity to expand our collaboration with local teacher education programsto better serve the preschool children in our communities,” said ESBOCES Superintendent Edward J. Zero.

The Official Board-to-Board Publication of Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Dialoguewww.esboces.org

January 2010

Award announced by Congressman Bishop designed to ensure children will begin school with solid literacy foundation

Public school essayists win competition with views on L.I. diversity

The Long Island Association (LIA), one of themost visible and vocal organizations workingtowards “an even better place to live, work,raise a family, and do business,” held its Spirit of LongIsland Dinner recently at the Crest Hollow CountryClub in Woodbury. LIA President Matthew T. Crosson(left) and Promote Long Island President Brian R.McCaffrey (right) presented the 2009 EducationAward to Eastern Suffolk BOCES Chief OperatingOfficer Gary D. Bixhorn.

As leader of the state’s largest educational serviceagency, Mr. Bixhorn is frequently called upon at theregional and state levels to share his expertise inschool finance, legislative affairs, and regionalservices. Mr. Crosson praised his 30 years ofexperience serving as an educational administratorin Suffolk County, making him a valuable resource tolocal school districts, educational organizations,elected officials, and business leaders.

Mr. Bixhorn coordinated the development of the

2

COO Bixhorn Is Honored with the Spirit of Long Island Award

To be a Superintendent of Schools, candidates mustbe enthusiastic visionaries and effective leaders witha history of successful strategic planning and adedication to providing quality education to students.To be successful in the positions, they must have therespect of their Boards of Education, maintainsuccessful relationships with faculty, staff, parents,and members of the community, and overseefinancially sound plans for their individual districts,while keeping themselves abreast of currenteducational law. Suffolk County public school districtsare renowned for attracting the best of the best.

With our new re-accreditationcertificate displayed in the lobby– effective through May 1, 2016– Eastern Suffolk BOCES focus remains onstudent performance, the region’s demand foraccountability, and its commitment to thecontinually growing, multi-cultural population.As our Director of Planning and ProgramImprovement, Dr. Candace White-Ciracosaid, “The ESBOCES symbol of thelighthouse stands as a reminder of, andtestament to, efforts in continuing theimportant task of providing educationalservices that transform lives.”

The new year promises to be challengingas our leaders in Albany and Washingtonrespond to the economic crisis. The LongIsland Education Coalition (LIEC), in an effortto address the Island’s inequitable share ofstate aid, has proposed a plan that would callfor state funding to correspond with schooldistrict spending for special education, healthinsurance, and pensions. That story is insidethis edition of Dialogue.

Reflecting on the Thomas ConoscentiReport, “Education: An EconomicPowerhouse – School District Operations andLong Island’s Economy,” I am struck by thenumbers, which include education being a$10.7 billion industry. Again, we cametogether and spoke with one voice to remindthe Governor that Long Island is an economicengine for the state, generating over $3billion per year. Still, he announced delayingthe payment of $16.4 million of the region’sschool aid and according to figures at theState Comptroller’s Office, it does not includeSTAR property tax rebates. Those funds arenearly triple the amount of the regular stateaid payments.

We do have some good news to report, soinside these pages you will find articles on the$3.2 million Reading First Grant awarded tothe agency through Congressman TimBishop, and Hofstra University’s Conference onUrban Diversity and the essay competitionthat was co-sponsored by ESBOCES.

Happy reading andbest wishes for successin 2010.

Pamela Betheil,Board President

Six NewSuperintendentsTake the Lead forSuffolk Schools

A Message from theBoard President

Mr. Michael Comanda – Greenport UFSD

Mr. Michael Hartner – Springs UFSD

Dr. Agatha Kelly – Miller Place UFSD

Mr. Charles Meyers – Fishers Island UFSD

Mr. Robert Parry – (interim) Sachem CSD

Mr. Donald Webster – Three Village CSD

School Property Tax Reform Act proposal on behalfof the Suffolk County School SuperintendentsAssociation (SCSSA), and currently serves aslegislative chairperson for SCSSA and as chairpersonof the Federal Legislation Committee of the New YorkState Council of School Superintendents.

Keynote speaker Nassau District Attorney KathleenM. Rice addressed myriad challenges facing LongIsland and the programs created to help combatthose issues. More than 200 members of the Island’sbusiness community were in attendance. �

Taking the helm for the 2009-10 school year are the following new component schooldistrict Superintendents of Schools:

Eastern Suffolk BOCES congratulates them on their achievements and wishes them continued success.

Have you heard the one about some peoplecatching swine flu by getting the H1N1immunization? Or maybe you heard the rumor about the swine

flu vaccine being closely related to thalidomide – the1960’s drug that was not approved by the Food andDrug Administration (FDA), but available in Canadaand the United Kingdom to help pregnant womenexperiencing nausea. After nine months, it was

What Have You Done to Prevent the Flu?Entertaining Video Explains Precautions

linked to birth defects. (Thirty years later, the FDA didapprove thalidomide, but for treating leprosy.)

For accurate and up-to-date information, schoolsand communities should visit the Center for DiseaseControl site www.cdc.gov and the county’s healthsite at www.co.suffolk.ny.us. The H1N1 vaccine isapproved by the FDA.

Locally, Eastern Suffolk BOCES joined forces lastspring with the Suffolk County Health Department

(continued on page 3)

Presented as a “Framework for the Future”, theSchool Property Tax Relief Act created by theLong Island Education Coalition (LIEC) is askingLong Islanders to join forces for “One Island, OneVoice.” In order to enable Long Islanders to speak withone voice, the LIEC has crafted this proposal to helpguide the state through the fiscal crisis. According toGary Bixhorn, the Suffolk County SchoolSuperintendents Association’s representative to theLIEC, “The Framework is a comprehensiveproposal that offers structural changes topromote fairness, offset foundationformula inequities, and implement cost-reduction initiatives.”

The proposal is designed to correctfunding inequities that have existedon Long Island education for far toolong. This includes the foundationformula, regional cost differences, andthe rising dependence on property taxes tofund school districts’ needs. Wendell Chu, amember of the LIEC, President of the SCSSA, and

Superintendent of the East Islip UFSD, said, “The LongIsland Education Coalition is stepping forward with aproposal that will help make school districts, theGovernor, and the New York State Legislature truepartners in the education of our state’s children. Thisproposal can go a long way toward making educationa priority in our state and making it affordable for local

property taxpayers.”The LIEC is proposing a “Framework for the Future”:

50/50 funding, with the state being an equal partnerin educating children; State support that keeps pacewith increasing costs of state-managed programs suchas retirement plans; special education mandates thatrely more and more each year on property taxes; afoundation formula choice for high-cost regions; andenhanced transparency that provides taxpayers with

a clearer picture of how monies are spent.The “Framework for the Future” wasdiscussed at a recent SCSSA Advocacy

Training Workshop, hosted by SCSSASecretary and Superintendent ofMiddle Country CSD, Roberta Gerold."There is hope of reform as we havea strong voice, and represent many

voters. The challenge is to keep themovement energized,” said Gerold. We

all have many pulls on our time andresources, but we have to continue to make

the time for this very important effort.” �

3

LIEC Proposes School Property Tax Relief Act

Suffolk County school districts continued topromote drug abuse prevention by educatingLong Island youth and their families. SachemCSD’s Assistant Superintendent Gail Grenzig andSachem East High School Assistant Principal DeniseDolan also looked at the law. They found that no lawrequires anyone, even minors, to get treatment forsubstance abuse, including medical detoxification.Thus was born a task force called AWARE, that ispushing for a law to provide hospital beds to minorswith addictions, as well as state support for a law thatallows parents to intervene and put their children intodetox without a court order.

The New York State Congress of Parents andTeachers adopted a resolution in November in supportof legislation giving parents and guardians that rightfulauthority over their minors. At the time this article waswritten, the presidents of the Sachem and SmithtownTeachers’ Unions were co-sponsoring a similar petitionseeking support from NYSUT.

Ms. Grenzig reports that feedback from a Sachem-sponsored conference titled “The Effects of Drug Useon the Adolescent Brain” by presenter Dr. StephenDewey, senior scientist at Brookhaven National Laband an Eastern Suffolk BOCES board member, “wasextremely positive.” She added that AWARE’s dual

purpose of changing legislation and educatingcommunities continues in support of parents dealingwith childhood drug abuse. Sitting members includeSuffolk County Legislators William Lindsey, LynneNowick, and Kate Browning.

At the time this article was being written, a meetingbetween Senator Brian Foley and AWARE committeemembers had been confirmed.

A Web site has been set up for AWARE. For moreinformation on this hard-working group of concernededucators and citizens, and to learn what you can doto help, visit http://www.sachem.edu/admin/health_info/aware/aware.htm �

Sachem Sets Up AWARE Web Site

“The Long Island Education Coalition is

stepping forward with a proposalthat will help make school districts, the Governor,

and the NYS Legislature true partnersin the education of our state’s children.”

— Wendell Chu, a member of LIEC, President of SCSSA,and Superintendent of East Islip UFSD

Executive Seminars in School BusinessAffairs, an educational leadership andaccountability course for school districtadministrators, co-sponsored by ESBOCESand SUNY Stony Brook, held a certificationceremony recently.

Among those earning certificates wereNicole Barbante, Patchogue-Medford UFSD;Susann Crossan, Maria Dorr, and Susan Wilson,Rocky Point UFSD; Gloria Dingwall, WestburyUFSD; Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, East WillistonUFSD; Rodney Gilmore, Hempstead UFSD;Stephen Lando, Great Neck UFSD; MichaelComanda, Greenport UFSD; and JosephMarchesiello, Bethpage UFSD. Also pictured are Marlene Brennan, SUNY Director of the PublicEducation Center, Barbara Salatto, ESBOCES Associate Superintendent for Management Servicesand Amy Margolies, SUNY Program Coordinator.

Administrative Certificationat SUNY Stony Brook

What Have You Done to Prevent the Flu? (continued from page 2)

and the Suffolk County ShoolSuperintendents Association (SCSSA) toformulate a readiness plan. Additionally, theagency posted vital information on its Website and supplied all component districts withfree copies of an entertaining butinformational, as well as educational video oncough and sneeze etiquette titled “Why Don’tWe Do It In Our Sleeves?” Superintendentsbegan to report how well-received theproduction was when shown to faculty, staff,and students, declaring it entertaining, aswell as educational.

As described by the video’s narrator, thepurpose of this humorous informational videois to make sneezing and coughing into oursleeves “fashionable and even patriotic.” �

The U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) isthe nation’s foremost coalition of leadersfrom every sector of the building industry,promoting structures that are environmentallyresponsible, healthy places in which to work andlive. Recently, the Long Island Chapter held itssecond annual scholarship presentation to collegestudents. The awards are given to students whoapproach design and building with fresh,innovative ideas that support the USGBC’smission. Eastern Suffolk BOCES Plant FacilitiesAdministrator Keith Anderson, who sits on theSuffolk County and New York State SchoolBuildings Association Scholarship Committees,helped to present four Long Island students withawards in support of their higher education goals.

“The committee’s focus is on educating studentson everything green,” explained Mr. Anderson.

“We don’t want college graduates to beginthinking green their first day on a new job, wewant them to be green.” He addressedESBOCES classes for high schoolstudents providing that early education.“We teach them about the newprocesses that are available, such asenergy efficient panels and lighting,” headded. “It’s all very exciting.”

Pictured is Mr. Anderson congratulatingWeb Institute senior Lowell Dickerson with a$2,500 scholarship. Lowell is studying NavalArchitecture and Marine Engineering.

The brunch was held at Carlyle on theGreen in Bethpage. Holiday centerpieceswere created by ESBOCES horticulturalstudents at the Islip Career Center under theinstruction of Mr. Mark Haven. �

District Superintendent Chief Operating OfficerEdward J. Zero Gary D. Bixhorn

PresidentPamela Betheil

Vice PresidentLisa Israel

Member and ClerkFred Langstaff

Walter Wm. Denzler, JrStephen Dewey, Ph.D.

Chris GarveyWilliam Hsiang

Susan LipmanJoseph LoSchiavoAnne MackeseyWilliam K. Miller

Jeffrey SmithSandra Townsend

Andrew T. Wittman, Jr.John Wyche

Eastern Suffolk BOCES does not discriminate against any employee, student, applicant for employment or candidate for enrollment on the basisof gender, race, color, religion or creed, age, national origin, marital status, disability or any other classification protected by law. For furtherinformation or concerns regarding this statement, please contact the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Department of Human Resources at (631) 687-3029.

Eastern Suffolk BOCES Board

Members

Supporting “Green” Structures

CG 2548 1/10 CAS

graders Tim Batura and Kwaku Owusu, wrote aboutLong Island being a melting pot in which diversesocial and economic backgrounds have thepotential to create what Mr. Batura described as “awealthy and sustainable community.” Mr. Batura’spersonal experience witnessing discrimination ledto his suggestion that changing the environment of

people with a low tolerance for immigrants couldmake the difference.

Mr. Owusu believes that “mutual understandingleads to increased productivity,” adding, “It isbeneficial to read about other cultures in school,but it is better to meet and talk to people fromthose countries.”

Praising the talent and maturity of her twostudents, Bay Shore Superintendent of Schools Dr.Evelyn Holman said, “How exciting that of the threeaward-winning essays, two belong to Bay Shore HighSchool freshmen. Our students’ fine work reflects thespirit of Bay Shore’s multicultural community thatembraces and supports all our students.” �

Suburban Diversity Is Essay Topic (continued from page 1)

When President Barack Obama signed theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Actof 2009 into law earlier this year, hepromised that the two-year stimulus money wouldsave jobs by preventing layoffs and cutbacks andprovide flexibility to use the monies for schoolmodernization and repair. A letter from the WhiteHouse stated, “Education funding in the RecoveryAct will save tens of thousands of jobs in schools –many of them for teachers and aides who workwith disadvantaged students and students withdisabilities.”

Concerns were expressed by district officials,including what to expect when the two years areover. Meanwhile, some school businessadministrators wondered why the federalgovernment couldn’t just give the money to thestate to replace what had been lost so the sameprograms could be continued. From the beginning,

ARRA procedures were unclear, at times frustrating,and very time consuming. Connetquot CSDAssistant Superintendent for Business KevinO’Brien says, “Of course, it is all worth it. Thereporting does takes a lot of time, but we need themoney we’ve lost.” His district participated in aDecember ARRA webinar.

Regarding the accounting time required, WestIslip UFSD Assistant Superintendent for BusinessWendy Duffy speculates, “The federal governmentwants to be able to show how many jobs weresaved by the Recovery Act and they probably wantto ensure that the money is, in fact, going to schooldistricts, hence all the transparent reporting.”

As the regional agency, the role of EasternSuffolk BOCES is to provide direction to itscomponent districts so that the area’s assistantsuperintendents for business speak with one voice

regarding the accountability and transparency ofthe stabilization money being received. In an effortto keep all districts on the same page, ESBOCEShosted a webinar in September, prepared by theState Education Department, and participated inanother – an ASBO exclusive – on December 2.“Funding News” was also sent to districtadministrators, which provided them with ARRAupdates, guidance on the Stabilization Fund,funding opportunities regarding education grants,using the funds for BOCES expenses, a Web siteaddress that contains a quick overview of thefederal reporting, and more. For additionalassistance, contact ESBOCES ProgramAdministrator, Kathleen Wojciechowski at 687-3122/ kwojciec@esboces.org.

The due date for the second round of reportingwas December 31. �

ARRA Funds Require Unprecedented Transparent Reporting