Editor's Note: This article was written by Emily Cappiello.
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (CHSD) announced its pick for the new superintendent of schools at a board meeting on Wednesday night.
The board picked John DeTommasso, current assistant superintendent for instruction and technology at Bethpage Union Free School District and a previous employee of the CHSD, to take over for Dr. Henry Kiernan, who is retiring as superintendent effective June 30, 2013.
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“It’s a dream come true to come back to this great and wonderful community,” DeTommasso told Patch. “I am going to give everything I have to the community, the staff and the students. I am looking forward to it.”
Dr. Matthew Kuschner, former president of the CHSD board and now a trustee, was excited to welcome DeTommasso back to the district. “This is a great day for the Bellmore-Merrick community. We are excited to bring John back and want to cheer with him from the rooftops,” he said.
After thanking the Board of Education for letting members of the teacher’s union be part of the focus groups it had while looking for a new superintendent, he added, “John, we are here for you tonight and we are here for you come July 1.”
Another major issue discussed at the meeting is the purchase of Chromebooks, which are part of a new mandate from New York State when it comes to testing. Kiernan told attendees that the purchase of these Chromebooks would be necessary during the next two years in order to have one machine per student for the students taking the exam.
According to Kiernan, the machines cost about $300 each and the cost will be factored into the budget for the next two years.
“The students cannot share these due to test security and due to the fact that all the students in New York State will all be taking these exams at the same time,” he explained. “As of right now, this is the cheapest alternative. We have to start now instead of burdening the budget with it for the next two years.”
Natalie Giovino, a student at Kennedy High School, was honored by the Board of Education for winning first place at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair in the subject of medicine. Giovino will travel to Arizona in May to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
The board of education accepted an anonymous donation of $5,000 toward the multi-media projection system project for Calhoun’s auditorium.
The board of education accepted a donation of a plaque for the Sept. 11 memorial at Brookside from the Mepham Key Club.
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