The first question parents ask Nicole Moriarty about the Mineola Union Free School District’s dual language program is whether or not it works.
“The answer is yes,” Moriarty said.
Moriarty, director of ENL, presented a letter and video from seventh-grade student Eunice Lee translated from Spanish by fellow seventh grade Skyla Azeharie, both members of the program for the last five years, that showcased Lee’s fluency as a result of the program.
Moriarty boasted of the 468 K-7 students currently enrolled in the dual language program, a significant growth since the programs inception five years ago, when Moriarty said, “we had to recruit parents into our dual language program.”
At a dual language parent meeting on Oct. 18, parents touted that the social-emotional components that their children are experiencing such as empathy, cultural awareness and parity among the diverse student population present in the program is paramount to them, Moriarty said.
“They also expressed that the bringing together of diverse students in an equal status contact where they not only learn two languages but learn to like, love and respect each others’ cultures is a major benefit,” Moriarty said.
Over the course of five years the school district was able to create a K-7 dual language program while simultaneously building, over the past two years, an 8-12th grade bilingual sequence of courses at Mineola High School, Moriarty said.
Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, Moriarty said that seventh grade students will be offered, for the first time, the opportunity to take bilingual courses at the high school level. Moriarty clarified the difference between dual language and bilingual courses.
“In a dual language program 50 percent of the time is in Spanish, 50 percent of the time is in English and you’re learning side by side with two cultural groups,” Moriarty said. “In a bilingual program, typically you have only your Spanish speaking students and then they’re learning in Spanish and trying to transition out of Spanish into english.”
“Our vision is that we want to have biliterate students in both languages for both groups of students,” Moriarty said.
Prior to Moriarty’s presentation, the board passed all agenda items for the evening.
The board approved a resolution to participate in a cooperative bidding program conducted by Nassau BOCES to purchase new microphones.
“This is giving us the ability to buy audio and video equipment through a BOCES co-op which is similar to what we do for many cooperative bids,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Nagler, Ed.D. said.
The board, acting as the audit committee, met with auditors from Nawrocki Smith LLP to review the school district’s financial statements and voted to accept the financial report. A representative from Nawrocki Smith LLP will present at the board’s second meeting of November for questions and comments.
Included in the consensus agenda passing was the total payroll for the period ending September 30, totaling $4.2 million from the general and federal funds.
The one amendment to the consensus agenda that was approved included the appointment of Jackson Avenue School third grade teacher Erika Pena to the school’s lego league club to replace Meagan Fabiitti, who will be on maternity leave.
Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, President Christine Napolitano reserved her remarks to give gifts to each of her fellow members of the board in recognition of school board week.
“I’ve worked with many school board members over the years,” Napolitano said. “But this board is nothing short of a dream team.”
“The reputation of a school district lies very much in the hands of those that sit here,” Napolitano said.
To Brian Windham, Napolitano gave a classic gag gift of a fake nose and glasses, for the sense of humor he brings to the board and admiring his willingness to pitch in for all things board related, Napolitano said.
Cheryl Lampasona was given “sticky stretch toys” for “all the juggling” she does in her life and for prioritizing the board’s needs, Napolitano said.
Patrick Talty received a set of magnifying glasses for his inquisitive mind, Napolitano said, also noting his “sense of humor is killer”.
For Dr. Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion, Napolitano said she originally planned to get her a box of tissues as the board’s resident soft-hearted member, but instead went with a giant pair of glasses.
“Your vision to make sure that all children are included and heard always drives home the point that we must always see the big picture of what we do here,” Napolitano said.
Nagler followed Napolitano’s remarks, jokingly presenting the board with certificates rather than gifts, but giving testament to Napolitano and the board’s leadership.
“I think the combination of the five of you is palpable and extraordinary in the vision you have for where you want the district to be,” Nagler said.
