LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The announcement of five new hirings and eight introductory elective courses dominated the May 19 Sullivan West Central School District Board of Education meeting.

Family members and supporters of the pending employees filled the audience, which was also occupied by newly elected school board member Juliete Gaebel of Callicoon Center, fresh off her victory at the May 17 annual election during which the district’s $36,350,468 budget was handily approved by a vote of 404 to 123. Voters also approved by 358 to 158 the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund.

Gaebel bested challenger Klu Padu with her 351 to his 157 votes to take over the seat of retiring Joan Glase. Unopposed incumbents Rose Joyce-Turner and Ken Cohen received 361 and 354 votes, respectively, to start new three-year terms.

The goodwill from the budget’s passage extended to hearty congratulatory applause given as the school board approved the hiring of elementary school assistant principal Kevin M. Carbone at an $87,500 salary effective on July 1; the promotion of Patricia Ruggles to family consumer science teacher at a salary of $73,742 effective August 30; and the appointments of Sullivan West graduate Scott Paul Scardino as a physical education/health teacher, Bethany Rose Adams as a special education teacher, and Jena Homsey Love as an art teacher, all at salaries of $47,703, starting August 30.

Fewer study halls

High School Principal Mark Plescia reported the results of his team’s major effort since September to revamp the master schedule after noticing a proliferation of open study periods filling in many students’ hours during the school day.

“The goal was to get kids into class. We limited the amount of study halls a student can have per day to one,” he said.

Plescia said he sat down with the guidance counselors, surveyed students and teachers from every department, and arranged an electives fair outside the cafeteria to find out what subjects would be of the most interest.

Starting this fall, eight new elective courses will be offered across four subject areas:

English: Dystopian Literature, Greek Literature and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation course for English and math to be offered during the school day instead of evenings;

Science: Marine Biology and Culinary Chemistry;

Social Studies: Military History and History through Rock; and

Music: Guitar class.

Plescia said a course selection guide is in the final review stage before it will be distributed to students and posted on the district’s website.

“I’m hoping that kids will explore these options with their parents,” he said.

The new electives have no impact on the number of credits a student needs to graduate. Plescia said “two or three” current electives will be dropped based on low interest and these master-schedule changes will evolve over time based on how they are received.

The next Sullivan West Central School District Board of Education meeting takes place on June 16 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. Graduation for the class of 2016 is set for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25.