Meeting of November 10, 2008 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Coalition Membership Chair Ted Holmes, Vice-president Larry Fischer, President Helen Kotzky, Middle School Principal Anael Alston, Cheryl Hallliburton-Beatty, and Coalition Secretary John DeMarino

The Coalition for Glen Cove November meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Glen Cove, NY began at 7:30 PM.

Coalition president, Helen Kotzky, introduced guest speaker Anael Alston, who has been principal of the Robert Finley Middle School, for the past four years. His presentation was entitled "The State of Finley School".

Four topics were presented:

1. Safety/Climate of School

2. Happy Environment

3. Learning (Support Data)

4. Bond Referendum

1. Safety/Climate of School

Suspensions at the Middle School requiring a superintendent’s hearing have decreased by 65% over the past 3 years. This type of suspension occurs when the student’s behavior is so egregious that the principal is requesting more than 5 days of out of school suspension. In the 2004-2005 school year there were 17 suspensions requiring a superintendent’s hearing, while last year (2007/2008), there were only six.

Regular suspensions have decreased by 53% over the last 3 years. Specifically, there were 234 out of school suspensions in 2004/2005 and 111 for the 2007/2008 school year.

To promote a safe and secure environment there are monthly assembly meetings with students. All teachers are in hallways while students are changing classes or having lunch.

2 Happy environment

The middle school environment has improved and the number of students who have transferred from private schools to Finley indicates that parents are comfortable.

Mr. Alston has personally given 6 tours of the building to parents of private school children while school was in session and all have enrolled their children in Finley MS.

Attendance at evening school dances has improved. 350 students attended a dance this year.

Mr. Alston holds leadership breakfast meetings with local community groups like realtors and business leaders.

Parent/teacher conferences have been reformatted. A Parents Satisfaction Survey indicated 97.5% of parents are satisfied. The principal meets each week with the teachers and they discuss the progress of every student. Students having learning difficulties have special help programs and parents are contacted when students are doing poorly.

The eighth-grade class will have a trip to Washington DC this year, the 7th grade will have a trip to Philadelphia, and the 6th grade will go to Frost Valley. Students raise funds to help offset the cost of trips.

Arts are being addressed via culture exchange events. Students and teachers from China came to Finley last year and this year representatives from Uganda came. Programs were given on music/dance and art from these countries.

3. Learning

State test scores have improved for math and English.

The percent of students passing math and English exams:

The eighth grade class held a successful Presidential Election Mock Debate this year. Students developed the entire program. John DeMarino will contact local newspapers to get more publicity for this type of event.

4. Bond Referendum

Middle school bond referendum capital improvements recommended are:

New science lab, bathroom reconstruction, new upper-gym wood floor, reupholster Wunsch auditorium seating, repair stage floor, lighting, and sound system, air condition auditorium, and build a drive-through road at Deasy School.

Lively discussions on all these topics occurred between meeting attendees and Anael Alston.

The presentation was very well received and Anael Alston was thanked for his efforts and time.