The Herricks Board of Education Wednesday night laid out its goals for the school year and approved updated tax exemptions for certain residents.
The goals came together during the board’s retreat in late October, President James Gounaris said. He added that this was the first retreat since the COVID-19 pandemic and that the goals are primarily for the board members.
In November Herricks Superintendent Tony Sinanis explained the district goals for the current year, which he said serve as building blocks for longer-term goals.
The board will “seek to promote success by relying on its core values,” Trustee Juleigh Chin said, which include collaborative thinking, students personal development, passion for the Herricks community, honesty and respect, and a growth mindset.
The board will also support the district-wide implementation of the New York State Culturally Responsive-Sustaining framework to promote equity, inclusivity and belonging. Trustee Henry Zanetti said this goal overlaps with one of the district goals he set last month.
The district and the board are following the same goal.
Lastly, the board will also enhance its methods of communication for easy and regular access, Gounaris said.
“Access can mean a variety of different things,” Gounaris said. “We’re trying to communicate with residents, staff members and students the ability to send out information that is quick, fulfilling, complete and has an understanding for everyone to acknowledge.”
The board in August approved a contract with Garden City-based ARK Technology for $97,083 for the school year. Since then the district has started putting out notes from each Board of Education meeting, distributing a monthly district newsletter called the Herricks Herald and getting district news online quicker than before.
“We are going to try and enhance those methods of communication in a two-way direction,” Gounaris said. “It’s also a way for the families and students to get information to us.”
In unrelated district news, Sinanis gave a brief update on recently completed facilities projects, which include the new community center auditorium and second-grade classrooms throughout the district.
“The pictures do not do it justice,” Sinanis said of the auditorium. “It looks quite stunning in person.”
The board also approved three separate updated tax exemptions for senior citizens, disabled veterans and volunteer firefighter and ambulance workers. The exemptions for senior citizens and disabled veterans are based on annual income and the exemption for first responders reduced the exemption criteria from at least five years of service to only two years.
The next Herricks Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the community center.
