Port Washington School Board members held a ceremony on May 3 to award 20 faculty members who teach in the Port Washington School District with tenure.
The ceremony was held during the board of education meeting inside the Paul D. Shreiber auditorium.
Ed Foundation President Paula Whitman and Ed Foundation Executive Vice President Mara Silverstein spoke at the meeting to congratulate the staff on their accomplishment.
“We’re here on behalf of the Ed Foundation to congratulate all of tonight’s tenure recipients and to congratulate and thank the retiring who are being acknowledged tonight as well,” Whitman said. “The Ed Foundation works hand in hand with our school district and we enjoy the partnership to no end.”
School Board President Karen Sloan also congratulated the teachers receiving tenure and the three faculty members who are set to retire.
“This is not an easy process,” Sloan said. “It’s a rigorous one. There are a lot of observations. There are a lot of hurdles to climb. It does not come easily and so tonight is your official welcome.”
Sloan said she also wants to thank Port Washington School District Superintendant Kathleen Mooney for her leadership.
“It occurred to me earlier today that all of these people tonight getting tenure are under the guidance of out Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Mooney, so I’d like to take a moment to thank her for her wonderful leadership,” Sloan said. “There are teachers who are retiring and we always wish people the best because we know you’re starting another phase of your life journey,” Mooney said. “We know that we will miss you very much for all that you have done for our children and just for our school community.”
A complete list of the faculty members receiving tenure and those retiring can be found on https://www.portnet.k12.ny.us/.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed voting for the election, the 2016-17 budget and the sale of property in Sands Point.
Assistant Superintendent Mary Callahan said the 2016-17 proposed budget comes with a 1.19 percent increase in spending and a .80 percent tax levy increase.
“Within that increase we were able to add 11 instructional staff and four security aids,” Callahan said.
She said the community should’ve received a budget brochure that contains an outline detailing the financial aspect of the proposed budget.
Callahan said the Sands Point property is just shy of five acres, which was given to the Port Washington School District by the U.S Navy.
“The land has actually an interesting history because it was owned by the U.S. Navy. It was used by the Nay during World War two as an outpost to watch for German’s submarines on the coast of Long Island all because there were German submarines,” Callahan said. “After a specific period of time the Navy deed that over to the school district without any restrictions.”
She said the property is zoned as residential property and if the buyer wants to use it for any other reason they would have to work with the Sands Point Board of Zoning Appeals.
“My hope is that if the community authorizes the sale that the board would advertise the property and if a buyer or buyers could not come forward immediately then they might look to engage the services of a realtor,” Callahan said.
Residents will vote on May 17 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Weber Elementary School multi-purpose room.
