Budget Cuts Continue to Make Waves at Central High School District

Although the budget has already been passed, the realization that personnel and programs are going to be cut has started to create ripples in the Bellmore-Merrick school community.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, parents came out to bring their concerns about how the budget cuts will be affecting their children.

Gary Gitlitz, a parent, made a plea to the board to re-think it's strategy for the special education model going forward.

"This is a model program; a program that other districts should emulate," he said. "If you have the best, I see no reason to changing the person at the head of this."

In addition, Eric Streznec asked the board to see if it was possible to spare guidance counselors that are slated to be cut at the end of the year because he feels that guidance is a vital part of the school community, especially in middle and high school.

"To lose the first line of defense, it's hurting the kids," he said.

Streznec even pointed to a situation with his own child and said even though he was retired and very involved in his kids' lives, one of them was able to get a problem resolved through the use of a guidance counselor. He said that by dividing the students among the remaining guidance counselors, the kids may not get the attention they need.

"It was good that he had someone to talk to. If there is any possible way to look into this, I would appreciate it," Streznec said.

Dr. Henry Kiernan, superintendent, addressed Streznec and agreed that losing  guidance counselors was a terrible loss to the school community.

"We are not happy with any of the cuts and the board did not like any of the decisions that had to be made," he said. "We were able to keep programs in place, but these cuts will still affect everyone."

In other board news:

• The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District school board said goodbye to Diane Seaman and Joe Perrone. Seaman chose not to seek re-election to the board, while Perrone was bested by Nina Lanci in the most recent school board election.

• Seven members of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, including three teachers, were approved for retirement. 

• Tom Riordan, of Merrick American Legion Post #1282, reminded the school board that there were free programs available for school students through the post, but needed a little more cooperation. "We are asking for the school board to keep after the school to let the children know about these things."