The-Leader_2004-11-25

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In district wide mock elections, students ifi Freeport Public Schools got a chance to experience one of the most important rights as a citizen of a democracy—the right to vote.
When all 3,604 student votes were tabu­lated on November 1, Senator Kerry was their clear winner, with 73 percent of the popular vote. Although students knew their votes would not count toward choosing the future president, they were still proud to practice their power of choice.
Elections activities and corresponding classroom instruction varied in each school, depending on the .age of students. Pre-K and kindergarten students at Columbus Avenue School voted for their favorite colors and favorite fruits.
At the four elementary schools, students learned about the election process, studied how each candidate stood on the major campaign issues, then got to cast their votes for their chosen presidential candidate.
At the secondary level, students delved deeper into the function of the Electoral College, voted for national, state and local candidates, and answered survey questions about their views on issues like the econo­my, homeland security, education and healthcare.
The races were closest in .the elementary schools, with Senator Kerry averaging 57 percent of the popular vote. At Atkinson, Dodd and FHS, Senator Kerry was elected with an average of 78% of the popular vote.
"Through this mock election students really began to understand their future rights and responsibilities as citizens of this country," said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Robert Wayne Harris, who
organized the elections. "They also learned how to analyze information to make an informed decision about the candidates and the issues in this election."
School board amends policy on public comments
by Douglas Finlay
Before the school board got down to the business of presenting awards, pro­viding updated information on the search for a new principal for the high school, and changing public policy, those in attendance at the Dodd Middle School were treated to four vocal pieces by the Dodd Middle School Chorus comprising seventh and eighth-grade students, who sang strong, beautiful versions of four popular classics.
The chorus, under the direction of Monique Campbell-Retzlaff, got atten­dees in the mood for the holidays with renditions of "Born Is A King," a Ukrainian carole; Handel's "Thanks Be To Thee;" and a South African hymn.
Dr. Eversley then reported that the high school had received accreditation on November 5 from the Middle States Association for its standards of excel­lence toward quality control.
Congratulations were also given to
both the Giblyn and Archer Schools for their awards from the Business Council of New York State for outstanding edu­cational improvement of some 20 percent in" math and English Language Arts scores, in which the student body as a whole improved to consistently reach the third and fourth levels over the past five years.
Dr. Eversley also discussed students from Walldorf, Germany, being hosted by Freeport families, in which the students partook in school classes and school board meeting. "We hope we can elevate this exchange to include Freeport stu­dents going to Walldorf, Germany," Dr. Eversley said.
With high school principal Michael Courtney leaving to become assistant superintendent of a school district in Westchester, the search for a new princi­pal was ongoing. Dr. Eversley continued.
"We thank him for his support in implementing planning that has brought about steady improvement within the school," Dr. Eversley said.
He said advertisements were appearing in the New York Times and the business-to-business publication Education Week, as well as in top universities around the country. He also mentioned a number of other routes the administration was tak­ing, including an onhne application sys-. tem and other Internet career job boards..
But, he said, in the meantime, the high school was now in need of an interim principal who could act in a transitional capacity to bring the new principal up to speed.
However, a resident identified only as JoAnn reminded the board that in the last seven years the school had gone through "four principals with my son and four principals with my daughter."
She seemed to implore the board to look for persons that would dedicate themselves to the students of Freeport, and that perhaps someone local, could fit the position. "Take heart and find some­one in our neighborhood," she told the board.
(continued on page 2)
IN THIS ISSUE
i McCarthy on gang violence
- page 3
i Baldwin Republican Club -pages
i Police news
- page?
n Gang Czar
- page 8