In their search for the next superintendent, the Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education didn’t have to look very far.

Shawn Petretti, the principal at Mattituck Junior-Senior High School, will be formally appointed as superintendent at a meeting June 10, board of education president Barbara Wheaton announced Thursday.

“The board of education is confident of his proven leadership, his commitment to the community, educational connections and his overall desire to do what is best for all students, faculty, parents and community,” Ms. Wheaton said. “This appointment is the right decision for the future success of our school district.” 

Mr. Petretti has worked for the district for the last 24 years, first as a teacher’s assistant then a social studies teacher, high school dean and assistant principal. He has served as the high school principal for 16 years.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam in history and secondary education and a master’s degree from LIU in school administration and supervision.

“Since day one in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, I have been inspired by the students, families, this community, and all of the faculty and staff that I have worked with,” Mr. Petretti said. “This is truly a special place and I consider it a privilege to continue to work with all stakeholders. I look forward to the coming years as we advance this already successful school district to ensure that it is a place where our educators encourage and support all of our students to reach their highest potential.”

According to a press release issued by the district Thursday, the board conducted a “thorough analysis of the district’s past achievements and future goals,” and unanimously decided to focus their search on highly qualified candidates already working in the district.

Mr. Petretti’s promotion coincides with current superintendent Jill Gierasch’s resignation, which goes into effect at the end of the school year. She announced her decision in March after she was appointed as Cold Spring Harbor’s next superintendent and said she feels “heartfelt gratitude” for the opportunity in Mattituck.

Contract information for Mr. Petretti wasn’t immediately available and he is expected to begin in the role July 1.

To ensure a smooth transition for students and staff, the board has also opted to appoint current high school assistant principal David Smith as principal, effective July 1, at the June 10 board meeting.

Mr. Smith began his career in Mattituck as a band teacher and has also served as chair of the music department. He has held the assistant principal role for the last 15 years.

Mr. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in music from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s in school administration and supervision from Stony Brook University.

“It is hard to believe that I’ve spent 26 years in Mattituck. The school has become not only a sense of pride, it has become a large part of who I am,” Mr. Smith said, adding that the opportunity to serve as building principal is a dream come true. 

Speaking about the new appointments, Ms. Wheaton said the future is “in good hands.”

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The Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District has been granted nearly $500,000 in combined allocations from the federal government to address educational gaps caused by the pandemic.  

The district plans to prioritize a K-12 mental health and wellness program, in addition to targeting learning loss and performance gaps, offering supplemental programs and bolstering its technology infrastructure.

“You really do have to use this plan, that you’re not putting the district in a position that this becomes a recurring expense,” instructional support administrator Ilana Finnegan said at a board of education meeting last Thursday. She emphasized that the funds are meant for short term relief. 

“It’s really about addressing lost instructional time,” she explained, adding that the funds are geared more towards schools that were remote the past year. “We actually are a little bit ahead of the game … in that regard.” 

The district has proposed a two-year run for its expanded mental health and wellness program. Ms. Finnegan said a team has already started meeting to come up with “a comprehensive plan of how to address all the nuances of the mental health and wellness needs of the district.” The funds will pay for staff to work on the program over the summer, increased hours for social workers and behavior specialists, and outside experts and consultants if needed. 

Ms. Finnegan also said the district intends to focus on academic interventions to close learning gaps that arose during the pandemic. The district has proposed setting aside money for after-school enrichment and academic support, in addition to a full-day, four-week summer program.  

One school official said a program has been launched for this summer, but he’s “disappointed in the enrollment.” Ms. Finnegan acknowledged that transportation might be an issue. 

The district has also proposed spending funds on updated classroom technology, such as smart boards, and purchasing extra Chromebook chargers to keep for “students that have a disadvantage.” Funds have been allocated to upgrading technology infrastructure, including the firewall and backup servers, in school buildings. The district is additionally looking at adding wireless access points to provide internet on sports fields at the high school. 

The spending draft is open for public comment through July 1, when the district must post a finalized spending plan on the website.

MASKS REQUIRED INDOORS

District officials said they were going to “stay the course” on indoor mask mandates, following recent confusion over the state mask mandate in schools last week. 

After implications from the state Department of Health last weekend that mask mandates in schools would be dropped, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told schools that masks were still required indoors — although they’re now voluntary outdoors. 

“We did have a conversation as a board about sending letters to the state and some of our local politicians expressing our feelings on some of these topics going forward, and to make a statement, but for now we’re going to comply with the regulations,” newly appointed Superintendent Shawn Petretti said. 

He acknowledged questions about mask-wearing as temperatures rise, saying the board plans to reach out for guidance from the Department of Health. “But the good news is, it looks like it’s going to be in the 70s for the next 10 days so we’re not going to get any extreme temperatures,” he added. 

The district is waiting for new state guidelines over the summer about reopening in September. Officials expect there will be “very little or no COVID-related requirements.”

ROOF REPLACEMENT PLANNED

The district plans to eventually replace the roof of Cutchogue East Elementary School due to widespread but minor leakage. 

Delays in obtaining materials means construction will have to wait for next summer. There is no risk in the meantime.  

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Few classes have had to overcome the type of adversity the graduating classes of 2021 have endured. The COVID-19 pandemic created unique hardships for not just one but two school years.

On Saturday, members of the senior class in Mattituck were able to put it all behind them with a commencement ceremony on the athletic field. It was the school’s 107th graduating class.

High School principal Shawn Petretti, who will begin his tenure as district superintendent next month, oversaw the ceremony, which included a valedictory address from graduate Luke Altman, salutatory remarks from Weronika Jachimowicz and an alumni address from Greg Ammirati of the class of 1996.

See below for scenes from the ceremony:

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Amy Brennan, the new principal at Cutchogue East Elementary School, wasn’t always an educator.  

Her first career, which followed her mother’s footsteps, landed her in insurance. But education was something she always wanted to do, so when she went with to sign up for an MBA at Dowling, she said “you know what? I’m going to get my master’s in education.”  

She hasn’t looked back since. 

Ms. Brennan currently works as director of elementary education at South Country School District, where she’s been since 2015. Previously, she worked as a literacy coach and reading specialist in Riverhead Central School District. 

Times Review Media Group spoke with Ms. Brennan about her experience in education and what she hopes to bring to her new position. 

Q: What skills will you bring from your previous jobs to your position as principal of Cutchogue-East? 

A: “I have an extensive background in literacy and professional development. At South Country, I do a lot of curriculum and instruction, a lot of professional development. I work with teachers across many buildings, I work with many principals. So I think all of that is really going to support my role as principal at Cutchogue-East. I’m very excited to bring all that I’ve learned into the new environment and there’s much for me to learn at Cutchogue-East.”

Q: What attracted you to the school?

A: “Well, truthfully, I live in Riverhead, in Baiting Hollow. So I’ve always been kind of an East End person — not always, but since I moved out that way — and the community, the Mattituck-Cutchogue community is just something that I really appreciate. The North Fork is a great place to be. So far everyone’s been very warm and welcoming. It’s a nice caring culture.” 

Q: What do you hope to accomplish while you’re there? 

A: “Well, my first plan for when I begin working is to really just develop relationships with the students, the families, the teachers. I’ve been out there quite a bit so far, I was fortunate to visit them on Field Day, and really just get to know everyone, to spend a lot of time listening and learning. I think it’s a great school, it’s a great school community, and I really want to just listen and learn and make my plans from there.” 

Q: As you know, schools are hoping to return to more of a pre-pandemic normal in September. What are some priorities for you?

A: “Gathering again, right? The biggest thing is bringing everyone back after the pandemic, after everything we’ve been through, and really coming back together again, while also appreciating things that maybe we learned during the pandemic. I think during the pandemic, a lot of educators had to find other instructional methods. They used a lot of technology, I think coming back from this is, you know, balancing those things, because now, if we can gather together again, and if we’re able to collaborate in ways that we did before, but then really take the things that that worked well for us during that time, and kind of blend it together so that we can really create the best learning environment for kids.”

Q: And do you think that you’re going to keep any of the policies that were implemented during the pandemic?

A: “The school district has their own plans that they’ve been following that are in place. I’ll support anything that the district is doing. And, you know, as they take guidance from the state and the government, and any guidance from any of those places, and then the school responds with their plans, you know, we would follow those.”

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With just two weeks to go before the start of school, local districts are starting to present to parents a clearer picture of what their reopening plans are.

But there are still several factors that have created some uncertainty as to what school will look like in 2021-22, including a rising number of COVID-19 cases attributed to the Delta variant and the prospect that a new governor could introduce stricter guidelines.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will take office next Tuesday, has already said schools should anticipate a mandate on the wearing of masks, perhaps the most discussed issue heading into the new school year.

“My view is people and children and everyone in a school environment will be wearing masks,” Lt. Gov. Hochul said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show last Thursday.

The incoming governor, who will take over for Gov. Andrew Cuomo once his resignation takes effect, then added some confusion to her statement by adding that’s just an opinion and she doesn’t have the authority currently. “We’re going to leave it up to the school districts right now, but we’re going to monitor this closely,” she said. “I believe that there will end up being mask mandates.”

With that in mind, area superintendents began unveiling their own plans this week, with superintendents in Greenport and Riverhead saying students and staff in their schools will be required to wear masks. Mattituck-Cutchogue is opting for a three-tier plan that includes a staff choice option for wearing masks indoors when cases are low, according to a draft plan presented by new Superintendent Shawn Petretti to the public and the Board of Education for the first time Tuesday evening. Masks will be required at all times on buses, where students will not be social distanced to begin the school year, he said.

The presentation of Mr. Petretti’s draft plan, which he said is subject to change before the start of school Sept. 1, was preceded by more than an hour’s worth of comments on the issue of masks from parents in attendance. A majority of those parents appeared in favor of students not being required to wear masks, though some spoke of a desire to see students masked and several asked for some middle ground.

Mr. Petretti said the development of the plan, which he worked on with administrative staff, was not an easy process.

“[We were] not all in agreement,” he said. “A lot of us have strong feelings, but as a team we had to come to a consensus and we had to do that respectfully.”

In order to determine the infection rates, Mr. Petretti said in the draft plan the district will use county data for the total number of cases over a seven-day period and not a percentage of tested individuals, as the state has used as a benchmark. The district could also opt to use local numbers just for the hamlets the district serves, but Mr. Petretti said they have to consider some parents and staff commute to and from other parts of the county.

As part of the draft plan there will be no remote option for students, though individuals required to quarantine will be educated remotely. Quarantined staff could teach remotely, but that will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Staff will not be required to show proof of vaccination.

Greenport officials announced at their school board meeting Tuesday that all students will return to fully in-person instruction this fall, with masks indoors and on school buses. Three feet of social distancing will be maintained as much as possible and a remote option will be available for students who need to quarantine. 

One audience member at Tuesday’s board meeting argued that parents in another district are petitioning for children to wear masks at the discretion of their parents. Superintendent Marlon Small emphasized that the district is following guidance from the county health department and the state department of education. 

“We made a decision that we would follow the guidance issued by [the local health department],” he said, adding that their advice in turn is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Mr. Small pointed out that the school includes students ranging from pre-K through 12^th grade, and not all students will be vaccinated. The district aims to prioritize the health of its students and try to bring them as close to normalcy as possible.  

The school will keep a supply of masks on hand for anyone who needs a replacement. It will also continue to offer students mask breaks throughout the day, a policy that was implemented last year.  

The district noted in its reopening plan resolution that the superintendent may make temporary modifications to the plans based on pandemic circumstances.  

The Southold School District has not yet shared its reopening plan. Its school board meets next Wednesday, Aug. 25.

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It may not be Labor Day yet, but school is officially back in session.

Students across the North Fork began the 2021-22 school year Wednesday. While protocols to protect against the spread of COVID-19 remain in place, the daily routine in schools appears to be the closest to normal it’s been since the pandemic first shut down schools in March 2020.

A new superintendent has taken over at Mattituck, one year after Southold and Greenport each introduced new superintendents. 

Here’s a breakdown of some of the other changes at each local district.

Mattituck-Cutchogue

Mattituck-Cutchogue School District is opening its doors with a record-breaking 28 new hires and people in new positions this September — including a new superintendent.

The unprecedented number of new hires comes on the heels of retirements across the district, with only one newly added position. Ilana Finnegan, the previous elementary school assistant principal, started as Mattituck-Cutchogue’s first director of curriculum/instruction and innovation in July. The position covers a broad scope of responsibilities that range from grant writing and compliance reporting to curriculum alignment and English as a new language programming, among other things. 

“The list could go on, it’s kind of a catch-all position that was created to help move the district forward,” said Superintendent Shawn Petretti, formerly the high school principal. 

The high school also updated its home and careers classroom, which will now host all seventh-grade home and careers classes in addition to two new electives centered on healthy eating and international foods.

The school renovated a room for a new advanced placement capstone course as well, which will start this year. The class, which is part of the English department curriculum, is targeted at teaching tenth-graders interested in taking other AP classes how to research and present information. Mr. Petretti said the class will be co-taught by teachers from the English and history departments, and the district is hoping to eventually add a “second tier” to the program with a science component. 

The high school is also adding courses in musical theater, AP computer programming and advanced art for students who may want to pursue an art major at the undergraduate level. 

Mr. Petretti said the Board of Education adopted the district’s reopening plan last Thursday night, edited to accommodate new restrictions that don’t allow students and staff to eat within six feet of each other. The district will follow state mandates requiring all individuals to wear masks in school buildings. 

“Many folks, myself included, are disappointed … that the COVID cases have gone up and we are going to need to open with the wearing of masks for all students,” Mr. Petretti said. “As disappointing as that is, it is going to be refreshing that this is going to be a far more normal year than our students saw last year.” 

All clubs and activities will run this year and, so far, it’s shaping up to look like students will return to sports as normal. Shields are no longer on desks and back-to-school nights will be in person.

Southold

Southold School District Superintendent Anthony Mauro said a full ventilation and AC system renovation is being done on the school’s auditorium and the completion of that work is pending. Roof work was completed over the summer and a new batting cage was installed with funds from a donation from the athletic association.

“Our changes this year were typical based on the comings and goings of school districts annually,” Mr. Mauro said.

The district will comply with state mandates requiring masks indoors. And social distancing restrictions have been reduced from six feet to three feet. Remote learning will be provided only for students under quarantine and those who tested positive.

Mr. Mauro said the district is “turning our building back to what it used to be, taking down shields and washing and storing them, bringing desks back in.”

The district saw various teachers retire and new hires have joined the faculty to teach French and science and there are a new guidance secretary, teacher aide and part-time lunch aide as well.

The district is considering offering a before- or after-school child care program at Southold elementary school. Students from K-6 would be eligible. Mr. Mauro said it depends on the level of interest if the program starts up. The morning child care hours would be from 7 a.m. until the start of school and the after-school program would run from the end of the school day until 6:30 p.m.

Greenport

September also means new hires and renovations at the Greenport School District this year. 

After a spate of recent retirements, the district has several new teachers among its faculty and is still searching for a new librarian, after the previous one resigned to take a position closer to home. 

“We believe that’s going to make a huge difference in the building, to bring in new blood, new thinking,” Superintendent Marlon Small said. 

Some of the new employees include a math teacher, a science teacher, two elementary school teachers and two Spanish teachers, one of whom is involved in the district’s effort to expand its language program to the third grade. 

“Starting in September, elementary school kids grade three and up will be exposed to Spanish classes,” Mr. Small said. Greenport has also gained “new resources” for science programs at the elementary level and is starting to plan for an elementary-level STEAM program next year, he said. 

The district anticipates locker room renovations to wrap up sometime in September and plans to begin masonry work on the building exterior this month as well. Work on its PA system and security cameras will also start in September. Mr. Small noted that the district’s tennis courts were repaired over the summer, using repair reserve funds. 

COVID-19 restrictions at Greenport have not changed since Gov. Kathy Hochul’s late August mask mandate for anyone inside schools. All classes will be held in-person, with a remote option available for students in quarantine. Students and staff are expected to wear masks indoors and maintain a distance of at least three feet. 

“One of the things that we explained to our school community is the fact that we’re a unique building with pre-K through grade 12 in the same building and we felt it was important, in order to have our kids back in the building, that we follow those safety protocols,” Mr. Small said.

Oysterponds

The Oysterponds School District will continue with the cohorts that were started last year to help maintain social distancing, according to Superintendent Richard Malone.

Oysterponds students return to class Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Outdoor learning will continue whenever possible under tents that were set up last year. The district also conducts random testing of staff.

Students will continue to wear masks inside the building, however, shields on the students’ desks have been eliminated. If a child has a medical validation not to wear a mask then that child’s desk would have a shield, Mr. Malone said.

A part-time Spanish teacher, who will be shared with Greenport, joins the district, and a new health aide has been hired.

The school also will reintroduce after-school clubs, which were discontinued last year. A twice-weekly extra homework club will be started to address some of the loss of learning that may have taken place last year, Mr. Malone said.

The guidance counselor will be working to introduce new programs that address the social and emotional development of the students. She’ll also be working with the teachers on a professional developmental training program along with the character education program that she develops during the week.

New Suffolk

New Suffolk Common School will pick up where it left off at the end of last year in terms of COVID-19 regulations. Students will wear masks indoors as mandated by the state and the district will continue daily temperature readings.

Phil Kent, the school’s superintendent and principal, said the district will welcome a new part-time physical education teacher and part-time Spanish teacher. Both will also work in the Mattituck school district.

The interior of the school building got a paint job over the summer. 

Mr. Kent said the school is hoping to enhance the curriculum this year by bringing back field trips and inviting local artists and authors back into the building as long as they are healthy and vaccinated.

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In a first for Suffolk County, the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District has opened a mobile COVID-19 testing site outside its bus depot in Cutchogue.

The site, organized through the Suffolk County Department of Health, opened Sept. 30 and operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays to service unvaccinated faculty, staff and outside contractors working at school facilities. It is also open to any vaccinated personnel who want to get tested, according to district Superintendent Shawn Petretti. On the first day, more than 120 tests were administered to employees from 15 different school districts throughout the county, according to a district press release.

The site was designed to provide a convenient testing location for school employees who need to be tested weekly under Governor Hochul’s Sept. 2 mandate that requires school staff in NYS to provide proof of vaccination or be submitted to weekly testing.

“When we learned that our non-vaccinated staff and contractors who work within the district were going to have to provide proof of a Covid test if they weren’t vaccinated, I became concerned about the potential hardship on our staff,” Mr. Petretti said.

And recognizing this might be an issue in other districts as well, Mr. petretti said he reached out to the superintendents in Southold and Greenport about it.

“I wanted to make sure we were in partnership on this, and they were supportive of the idea” he said.

The site was set up in a week and a half, Mr. Petretti said. The Department of Health has contracted with Baseline Health Management to provide the weekly testing.

Six other testing sites for school personnel have been set up across the county, according to Jennifer Culp, assistant commissioner in Health Services at the Suffolk DOH. 

“The mobile testing sites are just one of the tools we use to help keep our schools safe and keep our kids in school, learning in-person,” Ms. Culp said. “We work very closely with all of the schools to make sure that policies are in place … Testing is a great tool, screening testing can catch the virus early and reduce transmission.”

The drive through testing site requires no appointment. Staff members drive up and scan a QR code which automatically opens the registration website on their phone. After they’re registered, they are tested. The test results are texted to those who took the test within a half hour of administration and tested individuals then forward those results to an e-mail the district set up specifically for that reason.

Mr. Petretti said the district plans  to offer the testing “as long as the mandate is in place.”

“The faculty and staff of our school districts have been nothing short of outstanding during the duration of this pandemic and anything we can do as an administration to continue to work with and support them we’re going to continue to try to do and this is just one example of that.” Mr. Petretti said.

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Colorful stickers of logs, lily pads, ladybugs and more make up part of Cutchogue East Elementary School’s new indoor sensory path.

The ribbon cutting for the new sensory path took place Tuesday at the elementary school.

A sensory path is a series of guided movements and activities usually shown on the ground, in a hallway or on walls. It’s designed so students can follow the path and complete the movements as a way of working off excess energy, develop their motor skills and prepare them to better focus on classroom activities and instruction.

“It’s important for students to find time, when they feel a sensory overload, to have a moment to step away and engage in some really great activities to help them reduce their sensory overload and come back to the place where they’re ready to work,” elementary school principal Amy Brennan said.

For the ribbon cutting, Ms. Brennan was accompanied by district superintendent Shawn Petretti, assistant principal Kristina Moon, director of special education Meredythe Alliegro, sixth-grade special education teacher Stacey Tiamsic and three students.

According to Ms. Alliegro, the sensory path had been in the works for about a year. The path was installed in one night last week by the custodial staff, according to Ms. Brennan.

The sensory path was intentionally placed near a wellness room in the school, according to Ms. Brennan. 

The wellness room has meditation cushions and chairs, yoga mats and yoga blocks, a meditation mural and more.

The room was closed last year because of COVID but the school is looking for ways to bring it back this year, Ms. Brennan said.

“We’re kind of reintroducing the room back in and finding ways for us to be able to incorporate it and that sensory path was placed in that location intentionally to match with this room,” she said.

The sensory path is available for all students in the school. If students want to use it, they can just ask their teacher to take them. 

Teachers can also bring their students to the sensory path if they feel their students need a break.

“If teachers just feel like they need a movement break during the day, they can do it and it’s really for all students in the school,” Ms. Brennan said.

All teachers in the district will receive a detailed movement guide on how to properly use the sensory path, Ms. Brennan said.

The ribbon cutting ended with a demonstration from the students in attendance while they skipped and bounced along the path.

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A new building management system proposed for Mattituck Junior-Senior High School would allow for better temperature control to create more efficiency.

Superintendent Shawn Petretti discussed the system as part of a five-year plan for upgrades to the district’s facilities at a “roundtable of shareholders” last Wednesday. 

“Right now, if you teach in junior high, or are students in junior high, you know it’s either really, really hot, or it’s really, really cold,” Mr. Petretti said.

The building management system would control the temperature throughout the building and in individual classrooms. Its installation would “create efficiency, comfort and control of temperatures in the junior high classrooms,” according to a five-year facilities plan report handed out at the meeting. 

The system would cost about $110,000, according to the report, and the money would come from the district’s annual budget.

Mr. Petretti said two items were pressing. The first was to address the junior high boilers. The plan calls for replacing burners as opposed to the entire boiler, he said.

The other would address a safety concern for track and field athletes. A sunken track curbing where the pole vault is located would be repaired before the outdoor spring season begins, according to the report. The sunken curbing is a safety concern, Mr. Petretti said.

The five-year plan outlines a timeline of projects the district plans to undertake to address outstanding issues in coming years. 

Mr. Petretti said it is a “fluid plan.”

Four projects would be included in the upcoming budget that will go before voters in May.

The first was recoating and repairing the Mattituck High School track, which was installed in 2014. The report says the work should be done as soon as possible to “prolong” the life of the track. The funds for the $165,000 project would come from the annual budget, according to the report.

The building management system in the junior high school was second on the list.

The STEM wing renovation was the third priority on the district’s list. It would provide opportunities for additional STEM classes and programs such as robotics. The $3.4 million cost would come from the capital reserve.

The fourth item proposed is a roof recoating at Cut-ch-ogue East Elementary School. The district is proposing a recoating with a 30-year warranty for $2.2 million instead of replacing it entirely. The money would also come from the capital reserve and would require voter approval.

Mr. Petretti said that the district will be focusing on two of the four projects mentioned in the report: the STEM wing and fixing the roof at Cut-chogue East.

He said it’s a two-step process. The district first would need a vote to move money from the reserve funds to the capital reserve. The district would then need voter approval to spend the money from the reserves on those two projects.

“We’re going to try to get two of those projects done either in the annual budget or with surplus funds from this year,” Mr. Petretti said.

According to the report, some of the other goals set for the district within the next five years include a solar project at Cut-ch-ogue East and Mattituck High School, a districtwide technology infrastructure upgrade, tennis court reconstruction and replacing the playground at Cut-ch-ogue East, among other things.

Mr. Petretti emphasized that nothing in the plan is fixed and he recognizes that the district has an obligation to be fiscally responsible with its goals.

“Priorities and funding are going to drive the timeline, we have to be fiscally responsible,” Mr. Petretti said.

Correction: The five-year plan was discussed at a “roundtable of shareholders” and not an official Board of Education meeting. The next BOE meeting is Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

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After seeing the large number of parents requesting translation services during parent’s night for students in the English as a new language program, Rafael Morais got the idea to start classes for parents in the Mattituck community.

“I started putting that out there and everybody that got back to me said, ‘Hey, if you have a class in this school, we will come,’ ” said Mr. Morais, the Mattituck-Cutchogue school district’s community liaison.

The community liaison position is unique to the district and Mr. Morais said the work entails “everything you can imagine,” from helping parents with paperwork for registration and even helping them make doctor’s appointments, helping students with guidance, making sure they are on track for graduation, helping them with classwork and more.

Any parent whose student was or is currently in the ENL program in Mattituck-Cutchogue school district may join the courses and there is no charge for the parents, according to the director of curriculum, instruction and innovation Ilana Finnegan.

Ms. Finnegan helped getting these classes passed through the Board of Education. The classes are funded through the federal funds the district received to specifically support English language learners, Ms. Finnegan said.

“They’re a significant part of our labor force here in the North Fork and when we can come in, and not only connect with them, but then give them another tool to communicate effectively with us, it definitely directly leads towards creating a better learning environment for the students,” Ms. Finnegan said.

The first class was held March 4, 2020. Classes were two hours long and took place once a week, on Wednesdays, at the Mattituck High School library. Over 30 parents attended the first class, according to Mr. Morais.

“They want to learn, they want to go and represent their kids … our families here, they want to do it,” Mr. Morais said. “They don’t want to rely on [me] or anybody else to go there and translate for them,” he said.

Mr. Morais worked to make these classes accessible and, noticing that child care was another obstacle, he arranged to have child care while the classes were going on.

“So during that class … if you don’t have someone who can watch the kids, they can bring the younger ones and I have high-school seniors that will be there put a movie on for the kids,” Mr. Morais said. He said the students would receive community service hours for their time.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the classes were stopped after the third class on March 25, 2020. This year, classes are expected restart Saturday, Feb. 26. Mr. Morais said that anyone interested in taking the course can contact him through email, at rmorais@mufsd.com.

“The more involvement we get from parents, the better it is for kids, for students, and the fact that the numbers are increasing and there’s more interest is a great thing, it’s a win-win for everybody,” Ms. Finnegan said.

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Mattituck-Cutchogue school district will propose a new 2022 capital reserve fund capped at $10 million to go before voters in May, according to superintendent Shawn Petretti.

The announcement came at Thursday’s board of education meeting during a presentation of the proposed 2022-2023 budget, which would increase 1.45% to about $42.8 million. The tax levy, the amount of money raised through taxes, would increase by 1.84% to about $38.7 million and stay under the state-imposed tax cap of 2%.

“We are presenting what we believe to be a very responsible budget, a fiscally sound budget that supports all those things that we value,” Mr. Petretti said.

He added that Kevin Coffey, the business and operations administrator for the district, recommended a $10 million cap on the new reserve fund.

“This will allow us to fund the projects that we discussed and identified as needs in the five-year plan,” Mr. Petretti said.

Mr. Petretti presented the five-year plan in December and it includes projects such as upgrading the district’s technology infrastructure and replacing the playground at Cutchogue East, among other items. He proposed the plan be revised every November.

“It is my recommendation that every November we review and update the five-year plan,” Mr. Petretti said during the meeting. “It’s changed quite a bit since I presented it two months ago.”

If approved, the new capital reserve would come after voters approved the expenditure of over $4.2 million from the 2018 capital reserve fund, which is capped at $6 million.

Those funds would go to the renovation of the STEM wing at Mattituck Jr/Sr High School, costing $3.4 million, Mr. Petretti said. The other $800,000 leftover would be directed toward the recoating of the Cutchogue East roof, if approved by voters.

There would be a 10-year term to fund the proposed 2022 capital reserve plan and it would initially be funded by a transfer of $2 million the district has in its repair reserves.

“That repair reserve is very well funded, we are very comfortable with taking $2 million out of that repair reserve to use for some of our future projects,” Mr. Petretti said.

Then it would be funded annually with surplus funds remaining in the general fund each year, Mr. Petretti said.

Further specifics on the budget will be presented at upcoming budget hearings in March, Mr. Petretti said.

While presenting the budget, Mr. Petretti mentioned that the building principals and department heads will be making their presentations during the upcoming budget hearings in March. The budget vote is scheduled for May 17.

The post Mattituck proposes $42.8M school budget, new capital reserve fund appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

The graduates of Mattituck High School’s Class of 2022 celebrated graduation Saturday morning inside the high school gymnasium.

Valedictorian Olivia Mannino and salutatorian Dimitra Pando both addressed the graduates.

Daniel Rosato delivered the invocation, speaking on behalf of the graduates. He spoke about how the class worked to rebuild traditions that had been put on hold during the pandemic and the challenges fellow graduates faced.

“It’s no secret though that despite the many joyous accomplishments, successes and the many memories made, high school was not always a save haven and happy place for everyone,” he said. “Social pressures, academic challenges, athletic competition and extracurricular stress have the habit of getting the better of us. This morning, I would like to speak to everyone who resonates with this.”

Dimitra spoke about the perseverance the class faced with an “unexpected curveball” in March of their sophomore year in 2020 and the subsequent next two years.

“But we got through it,” she said. “We stuck together and become more resilient as a result. And here we are together, celebrating the fact that we did get through it.”

Olivia spoke about how her fellow graduates were all “incredibly caring people.”

“Across the past 13 years, I’ve seen each of you do something that has shown me you care about whether everyone is doing well. Not just yourself. Do you know how cool that is? I realize now I could not ask for better people to grow up with.”

See more photos below:

Photos by Bill Landon

The post Mattituck High School Class of 2022 celebrates graduation: Photos appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

The Mattituck-Cutchogue School District was the latest Long Island district to be the target of a ransomware attack.

Superintendent Shawn Petretti issued a statement Friday saying an investigation into the attack is in its early stages.

The full statement read:

“On Wednesday, July 6, our school district became the latest target of a ransomware attack and a potential breach to our data system. We immediately contacted the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Eastern Suffolk BOCES and the district’s insurance carrier to determine the viability of this potential breach. 

In an abundance of caution, the district immediately shut down our systems to prevent all access to our existing data, while this situation is being thoroughly investigated.

We understand and share your concerns, however, please be assured that we have taken all possible precautions to ensure the privacy and security of all our student and staff information. 

While this investigation is in its early stages, we will share information as it becomes available regarding what, if any, data was breached. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”

Mr. Petretti was not available for an interview Friday, according to the district’s public relations spokesperson.

Ransomware attacks have been on the rise across Long Island the nation. The Riverhead Central School District suffered an attack last year that resulted in an unauthorized individual gaining access to approximately 422 files/folders. In March, Newsday reported there had been at least 29 incidents “of ransomware, computer hacks and other cyber incidents over the past three years” at Long Island schools.

The post Mattituck School District targeted in ransomware attack, superintendent says appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

There’s just days to go until schools reopen in districts across the North Fork, where administrators anticipate an academic year that will restore a sense of normalcy for students after nearly three years of pandemic disruptions.

Though the omicron subvariant BA.5 continues to cause a wave of new infections, officials expect to open schools with fewer pandemic restrictions in place.

Most area districts will open before Labor Day on Thursday, Sept. 1, before the Labor Day weekend, while others are set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 6 due to differences in instructional calendars and teacher contracts. 

Here’s what else you should know as the new school year begins:

Mattituck-Cutchogue

First day of school: Thursday, Sept. 1.

What’s new: Several new course offerings are available for high school students, from an AP computer science course to an astronomy elective. Due to the popularity of technical courses like welding and small engine repair, wood shop class is also making a comeback this year.

Last year, the district was able to introduce an after-school program at Cutchogue East Elementary School thanks to increased federal funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. 

“It was very well attended and we’ve seen a very positive impact on student performance as a result of that,” Superintendent Shawn Petretti said, adding that government funding has allowed the district to continue the program this year. It’s something school officials are actively discussing funding through the budget in the future, once that funding source runs out.

Crews have completed installation of new gym flooring at both the secondary and elementary schools as well as carpet, flooring and roof repairs at Cutchogue East. Repairs are underway on the high school track, which is used by both the school and general public. New junior high hallway lockers were installed and a more efficient temperature control system was put in place, the superintendent said.

The finishing touches are also being put on a much-anticipated walking fitness path at Cut-chogue East, which will permit outdoor activities year round. “We’re looking for as many opportunities as we can to get the kids outside and active,” Mr. Petretti said.

Who’s new: At the administrative level, there are no changes to building principals. The district will welcome a new director of technology, Kelly Urraro, as well as a new business official, Charles Delargy, this year.

What else to know: Mr. Petretti said he’s looking forward to a more traditional start to the school year with no pandemic guidelines in place. “It’s refreshing,” he said. “The beginning of the school year is always a really exciting time and it was such a big thing hanging over us each year.

“We do have some children and teachers that choose to wear their masks and we completely honor that,” Mr. Petretti said, also noting that the district will follow state guidelines should they change and will continue to monitor local COVID-19 cases daily.

New Suffolk

First day of school: Thursday, Sept. 1.

What’s new: District superintendent and principal Phil Kent said that, besides a fresh coat of paint inside the schoolhouse, students can look forward this year to a new weather station, which will allow them to track the weather across the East End, and an aquaponics growing kit.

“We’ll grow the plants during the school year and then look to transition them outdoors in the springtime,” Mr. Kent said. “Especially out here on the East End, with all the agriculture, I think kids should know that they can develop a self-sustaining ecosystem indoors, and then take it outdoors in the springtime and see the fruits and harvest their fruits before the school year ends.”

Who’s new: The school plans to hire a few special area teachers this school year. They will be hiring a physical education teacher, a Spanish teacher and a music teacher.

What else to know: Open enrollment for the district is available throughout the year.

“We just want to make sure everybody knows we have open enrollment throughout the year for in-district students as well as any out-of-district students,” Mr. Kent said.

Southold

First day of school: Thursday, Sept. 1.

What’s new: District Superintendent Anthony Mauro said he’s looking forward to “a return to normalcy” during the start of this school year.

The district made a concerted effort to implement new classes and electives for students. Mr. Mauro said the district took surveys and, based on the results, will be offering classes in mythology, coding and video game design, cosmic catastrophes and natural disasters, criminal justice and senior seminar.

Who’s new: The district will welcome two new staff members: Master Sgt. Juan Ibanez for the ROTC program and Rosemarie Messina as family and consumer science teacher. 

What else to know: Aside from general maintenance, the district has made improvements to the air conditioning and ventilation system in the auditorium.

The district also added three tennis courts, which were mostly funded through grants. Some work on ventilation and access control systems was also done at the elementary school. Finally, a former guidance wing was transformed into a college and career suite for the school social worker, psychologist and two guidance counselors along with the district’s transition and career coordinator, Nicole Helf.

Greenport

First day of school: Tuesday, Sept. 6.

What’s new: Superintendent Marlon Small said Greenport has been busy over the summer preparing for the new school year. Besides preparing new facilities, the district has been investing in new learning resources for the district’s students. 

“Not only are we taking care of the physical infrastructure, but we are also taking care of the things that are going on in the building in terms of getting our students updated learning materials, such as textbooks and resources that will support their learning,” Mr. Small said.

According to Mr. Small, new district facilities that students can look forward to as they start the school year include new bathrooms on the first floor, a new home and careers classroom and renovations in the art room and high school library, which will be getting new furniture as well, Mr. Small said.

Who’s new: The district will welcome seven new teachers for 2022-23, in areas including math, special education , as well as a new school nurse, Christina Mantzopoulos.

What else to know: The district broke ground on its capital project in late May. The $18 million project was approved in December 2019 and includes plans for construction of a new auxiliary gymnasium, and a new elementary library.

Other budgeted renovations that have already been completed include work on exterior masonry, girls and boys locker rooms and installation of new security and public address systems.

The district will also be renovating the elementary school’s “little playground”

The district’s Board of Education approved the playground renovation at its June 21 meeting. According to the resolution, the board will be using $190,000 from their repair reserve funds will be used for the project.

The renovation was recommended by the New York State Insurance Reciprocal, the district’s insurance carrier, due to safety issues cited in its most recent report, according to the resolution.

At the latest Board of Education meeting in August, the community was advised that the wood chips that are currently there would be replaced. The playground won’t be ready for the start of school but it will be done early on in the school year, Mr. Small said.

“We’re looking forward to starting the school year on just a great footing,” Mr. Small said. “This is a great time for Greenport,we’re looking forward to it.”

Oysterponds

First day of school: Tuesday, Sept. 6, for K-6 students.. Students in the pre-K program start Monday, Sept. 12. 

What’s new: Superintendent Richard Malone said that a variety of projects has been undertaken to prepare the district’s buildings and grounds for a new school year. 

The parking lots and driveways are being repaved and a new basketball court and tennis court will be ready for the opening of school, he said.

Who’s new: The district has hired Deanna Zicchinelli as a pre-K teacher to replace Jenny Schoenstein, who retired. The district also upgraded guidance counselor Veronica Stelzer from part-time to full-time status. Jean DeLorme also joined the staff as a new teaching assistant.

What else to know: Mr. Malone said he looks forward to starting the new school year with fewer COVID-19 restrictions for children and teachers. 

“We are very excited to be able to open school without the restrictions of COVID,” he said, adding that students can expect all after-school activities to return, as well as field trips that are currently in the planning stages.

The post Back to School 2022: Return to normal as districts prepare to welcome back students appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

The idea for a community shoe drive came from a Google search.

“I just was trying to come up with different ideas to make money for fundraising efforts, not repeating the same thing over and over every year,” said Kerri Chituk, president of the Mattituck-Cutchogue Elementary Parent Teacher Association. “This was a good one.”

Students at the elementary school have been working on the fundraising effort since Sept. 12 and will continue through Nov. 12.

The shoe drive is a partnership with the organization Funds2Orgs, with the idea being that rather than seeking financial donations, students work to collect gently worn, used and new shoes and sneakers. Those donations are then collected by Funds2Orgs and then redistributed to small business owners in developing countries to sell for profit to help them making a living wage.

“The more we collect, the more we end up getting back in return,” Ms. Chituk said.

Funds2Orgs, based out of Florida, gives the PTA large plastic bags each that can fit 25 pairs of shoes. The PTA’s minimum goal is 100 bags, which would equal 2,500 pairs of shoes bringing in roughly $1,000 for the PTA, depending on weight. If they collect more, the price payout per pound increases gradually and so would their overall payment. 

The organization will send a truck to collect all the bags at the end of the eight-week fundraising event. Shoes are currently being stored in the school auditorium.

“[Funds2Orgs] then have partners that they work with worldwide in developing countries where they have families, that they’re calling micro-entrepreneurs, that they then clean the shoes, and they go and they sell them to make money to earn for their families and their communities to bring in money,” Ms. Chituk said.

The fundraiser is already off to a fast start.

“Just from Cutchogue East students, we have collected and bagged 54 bags so far out of 100, over halfway in just two weeks,” Ms. Chituk said.

There are various challenges at the school district to incentivize donations.

The PTA created weekly challenges at Cutchogue East to serve as a “memory jogger” throughout the eight weeks. The challenge changes each week to keep the students asking different groups of people for donations each week. They are geared toward students raising as much awareness of the fundraiser as possible.

The PTA collects, tallies and bags the shoes every Friday. The class to bring in the most donations during the week gets a non-monetary prize like a bonus recess, an extra STEAM class or an in-class WINGO session with the PTA.

The prizes act as another incentive to participate in the challenges. The class that collects the most shoes over the duration of the fundraiser will receive a pizza party from the PTA.

Ms. Chituk has been working alongside a handful of other parent volunteers and PTA board members to keep the fundraiser going, calling local businesses to see who is willing to have a collection box on site for the community, collecting the donations at all the donation sites weekly and keeping track of how much is being donated at each site and more.

She said while the PTA hopes to be able to run the fundraiser again next year, it is labor intensive for the PTA and she would need more volunteers committed to make it work. 

Anyone interested in assisting can contact Ms. Chituk at 631-834-3434 or at ce.elem.pta@gmail.com as well as Ryane Hoeffling at 917-717-2654.

Donations of any type of shoe that is gently worn, used and new will be accepted. The following sites can accept donations:

• Cutchogue East Elementary or Mattituck High School

• Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library

• Mattituck-Laurel Library

• Wendy’s Deli in Mattituck

• JABS in Cutchogue

• Love Lane Sweet Shoppe in Mattituck

• Staples in Riverhead

• CVS in Riverhead

• Southold Town Hall and Recreation Center in Southold

The post Have a pair of gently worn shoes? Consider donating to school’s community shoe drive appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Throughout most of her education, Jennifer Solomon attended large schools. However, Ms. Solomon always saw the appeal of being a part of a smaller, more intimate learning environment and community.

“I had gone to a large high school, my undergraduate university was a very large school, my graduate school was a very large school and all the while I’d seen friends and other family members who had gone to smaller schools at various levels, and just sort of seen how they connected to people in those settings,” she said. “So being in a smaller setting was something that I thought would be really special and really appealing.”

She is now enjoying a smaller school setting as the new assistant principal at Cutchogue East. She assumed the role on Oct. 12.

Ms. Solomon came to the Mattituck-Cutchogue district from Riverhead Central School District where she was acting assistant principal at Pulaski Intermediate School and where she was also a bilingual, English-Spanish speech-language pathologist.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and Communication disorders from SUNY/Buffalo and a master of arts degree in communication sciences and disorders from Temple University.

She is currently a trustee on the Board of Education at Three Village School District where she grew up and has had four children go through the district.

Ms. Solomon shared with The Suffolk Times how happy she is in her new position at Cutchogue East in a recent phone interview.

Q: What is your favorite part of the job?

A: To be honest, I really like it all. I really enjoy the conversations that I have with students being able to give them strategies, and to collaborate with the other professionals in the building, the guidance counselors, the school psychologists, social workers, things like that, to really just kind of help kids to learn. I feel like — and especially in this post-COVID era where kids spent so much time away from one another — those social skills, they need support, and I feel like it’s such an important part of educating the whole child.

Q: What do you hope to achieve in your tenure at Cutchogue East?

A: This one student this morning said to me, ‘well, there’s always room for improvement, but Cutchogue East is really awesome.’ I was like, ‘man, that is so perfect, I couldn’t agree more!’ I would say that I want to contribute to preserving and strengthening everything that everyone in this community values about this school.

Q: What’s it like working with Cutchogue East Principal Amy Brennan?

A: I cannot say enough about how supportive she’s been. I am so grateful for her, I think we’ve already developed a fantastic rapport and working relationship. I can’t wait to continue to partner with her and work on behalf of the students and families of this community.

Q: What do you expect to be your biggest challenge?

A: I think every once in a while, you have a parent who just doesn’t really feel that they’ve been brought into the circle fully. I want all the families to feel genuinely that they are valued and appreciated, and I think that given so many different perspectives, maybe that’s a potential challenge.

Q: How has your experience as a board of education trustee informed how you’re executing your role as assistant principal?

A: My role here as an assistant principal, plus that role, are a reflection of my commitment and how genuinely I feel that public education is such an important foundation for our communities. I kind of feel like it’s all part of the same system, we’re all partners working towards the same end goal. So in one district, I’m doing it on one side, and here, I’m doing it on the other side but ultimately, it’s the same end goal.

The post Fast Chat: Meet the new assistant principal at Cutchogue East Elementary School appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Decreasing enrollment has prompted renewed discussions about expanding an existing shared services program for academics and athletics between Mattituck-Cutchogue, Southold and Greenport school districts.

The discussions between the superintendents of the three school districts began in early January and will continue to be held “on a fairly regular basis,” said Southold Superintendent Anthony Mauro. “We’re looking to try to get the best benefit out of what we all do by working with and sharing with each other,” Mr. Mauro said.

The conversation was prompted specifically by decreasing enrollment in Mattituck-Cutchogue and Southold, according to Mattituck-Cuthchogue Schools Superintendent Shawn Petretti. News of the renewed discussions was announced at the Jan. 19 Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education meeting.

“We want to keep promoting robust programs for our students but as our numbers continue to decline it’s going to become more and more difficult,” Mr. Petretti said. “So we just see that there’s going to be an increase in shared services and in combined programs.” 

Sports in which a single local high school team is comprised of students from two or from all three school districts include wrestling, winter track, bowling, varsity and junior varsity girls’ soccer, boys’ golf. The three districts have also historically shared a single Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, which help prepare interested students for service in the U.S. Armed Forces. 

“You’re talking about three school districts that take a lot of pride in their history and in their traditions so when you start talking about things like our shared athletic programs, these are sensitive conversations that will certainly take some time and will require input from stakeholders,” he said.

In terms of academics, Southold houses robotics which Greenport students participate in. Mr. Mauro said that they are also looking at various academic programs that used to exist between the three districts.

For now, the three school districts will share a satellite BOCES carpentry program that will be held at Mattituck-Cutchogue for the 2023-2024 school year.  Student participation is vital to keep the program going, Mr. Petretti said.

“Carpentry is something that is not offered in Riverhead, it’s offered in Bellport, geographically, it’s too far for our students,” he said. “So that with the renovation to the STEM wing made that ideal choice to pilot and see where we go with that, hopefully that’s the start of more collaboration with some of our academic programs.”

He hopes the program is successful so there is more opportunity to open other BOCES technical programs targeting needed services on the North Fork so students can “walk right out of our schools and right into the work force supporting the local economy,” Mr. Petretti said.

Since the districts are in early stages of discussion, they still have many details to solidify.

“We talked about aligning bell schedules for academic and athletic programs so that we can maybe share programs both academic and athletic with ease,” Mr. Petretti said.

Shared transportation was also discussed, as was shared billing practices, equipment and personnel, he said.

“One of our action items is to set up a meeting with Sunrise [Bus company] and talk about how we can align transportation, allowing us the flexibility to align some of our academic programs.”

Mr. Petretti hopes to eventually hold a public meeting that includes representation from all three districts to lay out the details of the plan for the public, but said discussions are still in early stages.

 “Some things we could maybe take action on in the immediate, but some of these are much larger conversations,” he said.

Mr. Mauro said he hopes to implement parts of the expanded shared services plan “as early as next year.”

“When will everything be fully implemented? I don’t think there’s ever a date for that. I think every year you’re looking at it. And you’re trying to decide what’s best for all your communities, and then you’re moving forward,” he said.

The post Decreasing enrollment prompts North Fork school districts to expand shared services agreement appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

It may have been dreary outside as a Nor’easter hit the area Tuesday, but the energy inside Mattituck High School’s gym was electric.

The Harlem Wizards, a team known for their entertaining trick shots, athletic prowess and comedy, worked their magic on a sold-out crowd as they faced a team of Mattituck-Cutchogue teachers, staff and administrators. (Final score? 71 home, 90 guest.)

PHOTOS BY JEREMY GARRETSON

The event served as a fundraiser for the Mattituck-Cutchogue Elementary PTA, which surpassed an initial goal of $10,000. According to PTA president Kerri Chituk, the organization raised $17,766 from a WizFit challenge fundraiser last month, plus another $11,000 in sponsorships from local businesses and over $9,000 in ticket and merchandise sales.

The funds will be used for various events and programs throughout the school year and also help provide outdoor play and learning spaces to enhance a new playground that will be installed at Cutchogue East Elementary this summer.

See more photos from the event by Jeremy Garretson below.

The post Photos: Mattituck-Cutchogue teachers take on Harlem Wizards in fundraiser basketball game appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

With the student count at Eastern Suffolk BOCES on the rise, its reputation may soon follow suit.

Enrollment in career and technical education at ESBOCES, a cooperative program which offers trade oriented courses to students in 51 school districts from Brentwood to Montauk, has consistently increased over the past five years. Its 2022-2023 programs counted 2,040 students — a 10-year high — including 314 from high schools across the North Fork and Shelter Island.

To meet the growing demand, ESBOCES has partnered with the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District to offer a carpentry course at Mattituck High School. Juniors and seniors can opt to take the class for one or two years, during which they will work in the school’s soon-to-be-revamped wood shop. Through the course, students can earn high school and college credits as well as various industry certifications.

ESBOCES hosted a showcase at Southold’s Peconic Community Center last Wednesday to promote their Mattituck program and other offerings as well as to try to dispel misconceptions about their services and the students who use them.

“When I grew up … there was this perception that [BOCES] was for kids who weren’t going to go to college, or were afraid they weren’t going to graduate,” said Leah Arnold, ESBOCES director for career, technical and adult education. “Probably the biggest misconception is that it’s for kids that aren’t ready for post-secondary [schooling.] It fluctuates year to year, but 80% to 90% of kids [have gone on] to more education over the last two decades.”

BOCES, which stands for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, are public organizations created in 1948 by the New York State Legislature to facilitate collaboration amongst local school districts. The original intention, according to the BOCES website, was to expand equal educational opportunities to smaller, rural school districts where services were otherwise “uneconomical, inefficient or unavailable.”

In recent years, many of the program’s offerings have seen much higher demand. 

“Right now what’s really hot is construction trades,” Ms. Arnold said. “The manufacturing trades like welding … [and] our electrical class have a waiting list, plumbing has a waiting list. HVAC, I’ve got three full-time teachers for that.”

Importantly, the organization’s one- and two-year programs are not intended to be the end of a student’s education. Upon completion, participants earn college credits and industry certifications that can help them whether they attend college or enter the workforce.

Phoenix Samolewski, a junior at Mattituck High School who will complete his second year of ESBOCES’ carpentry program at Bellport High School next year, is embracing the different options open to him following graduation.

“I’m going to some sort of SUNY college to get at least a two-year degree … I can still use that to get a job rather than someone who doesn’t have a degree,” he said. “I want to pursue construction, but I’m not sure exactly what. I like building houses, it’s interesting, but I got to see.”

Robert Van Brunt, administrator for ESBOCES adult education programs, said that while misconceptions persist, the reputations of so-called “essential workers” have improved since the pandemic, potentially making careers in the trades more attractive. He added that students like Phoenix are in high demand on the North Fork, whether they go straight to work at an entry level or develop skills through on-the-job training of apprenticeships.

“We get employers [scouting] all the time, people who own mom and pop construction companies,” he said. “And because [Phoenix] … has OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 [certifications] behind him already, he can go into the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Program with hours already under his belt.”

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, who attended last week’s BOCES fair, referred to the organization as “one of the most unheralded resources for young people and for adults alike,” and one that can fill a void in the local workforce.

“Not only does [BOCES] provide younger residents with skills that can be employed and utilized locally, and they can earn incomes and good livings locally, it will fill the real needs of the town: tradesmen and craftsmen,” he said. “There is a huge demand for skilled labor so that [businesses] can function. You see help wanted ads all the time [for] carpenters, cabinetmakers, plumbers, automotive shops, electricians, you name it.”

Adding a new BOCES carpentry course is just one aspect of local school’s increased focus on technical education. The Mattituck program, which is open to students from the Southold, Greenport and Shelter Island school districts, will be housed in the carpentry shop in the school’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics wing, which will undergo renovations this summer, according to Mattituck-Cutchogue superintendent Shawn Petretti.

“In the last couple of years, we introduced welding and small engine repair [electives], and they have become very, very popular with our students,” Mr. Petretti said. “We’ll have a metal shop, and then we’re also expanding another area for our robotics and engineering programs.”

The post BOCES carpentry coming to Mattituck underscores demand for a more trade-focused education appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

In 1999, community partners joined together to build outdoor basketball courts on Mattituck-Cutchogue school district property on Aldrich Lane in Laurel.

Twenty-two years after the facility’s completion and dedication, the district is again looking to the community to help restore the courts.

“We were looking at the costs of continued maintenance and also hearing from some folks in the community who utilize it, that it really needed an upgrade,” District Superintendent Shawn Petretti said.

Although funding for maintenance has been in the district budget in the past, the estimated $60,000 cost of the overhaul isn’t included in the $44 million 2023-24 budget approved by voters in May.

“This was put in by the community, for the community,” Mr. Petretti said. “It’s on one of our properties that we’re presently not using, it’s off our main campus over on Laurel. So for that reason, we thought it appropriate to go back out to community partners and folks that directly benefit from it. We really feel that it falls out of the scope of responsibility of our community taxpayers.”

Mr. Petretti added he does have someone within the district looking into grants for community-based projects to help reach the goal.

In the past, the courts have been used for fundraisers by various community organizations, individual play and team games. 

Thomas Kelly, the school maintenance crew leader and head of buildings and grounds, said that the repair of the courts — along with upgrading the district’s tennis courts — has been a topic of conversation “over the last couple of years.

“Sometimes these facilities have cracks in them, and they get worse over the winter months, and it gets to a point where you can’t do the repairs anymore. You have to really strip it down and resurface them,” he said.

According to Mr. Kelly, the wear and tear on the basketball courts has become a safety concern and the job requires a full renovation.

“We’re talking about milling the whole court down and resurfacing,” he said. “Some of the backboards — the safety braces on some of them are missing, so it’s replacing the backboards [also].”

There is no set time frame to greenlight the project, according to Mr. Petretti.

“We were hoping to really see what kind of response we get from the community based on the letters that went out. We have begun to get some donations and then will … make another pitch and reach out again to some other folks in the community to get whatever else needs to be done,” he said.

Those looking to contribute can contact Tina Smith in the district’s business office at tsmith@mufsd.com or 631-298-4242, ext. 3501. For anyone who has questions about the project, Mr. Petretti welcomes them to reach out directly at spetretti@mufsd.com or 631-298-4242, ext. 3100. 

“We’re just looking to make it a safer place that the community can go and use those courts,” Mr. Kelly said.

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