The Board of Education is a vital part of the East Islip community. However, a vast majority of the students are unaware of what a Board of Education even does, let alone all of the time and dedication they put into bettering the district.
East Islip’s Board of Education is composed of five members – Mr. Michael Dorgan, Mr. Stephen Ruland, Mrs. Jessica Ciampi, Mr. Timothy Sassone, and Mr. Christopher Zachry – who were elected to their positions by members of the community. Their ultimate goal is “for East Islip to be a District of Excellence, and to educate students with the skills and knowledge to become exceptional learners and leaders” and to “provide a safe and positive learning environment in partnership with our greater community.”
For those unaware of what it takes to be a board member, it is no easy job. Trustee, Jessica Ciampi, describes that, “being a board member encompasses so many things – creating policy, resolving issues, working on a budget that benefits taxpayers as well as children, and being visible and accessible in the community.” Balancing all these responsibilities can be difficult at times, however, the board members work together and get along exceptionally well.
East Islip is incredibly lucky to have a wide variety of sports and clubs after school, none of which could exist without the Board of Ed. Every year Board members are open to more ideas for clubs and programs brought to them by students and staff. President of the Board, Mr. Dorgan, finds joy in it all, saying, “what makes me happy is seeing how each student can find something in either a program or activity that they can embrace to make them the best at whatever they choose.”
Additionally, there are many projects around the school that would not have been accomplished without the contributions of the BOE. As students, teachers, and various community residents walk into the front doors of the East Islip High School, their first sight will be the Wall of Honor. The purpose of this display is to showcase and appreciate East Islip alumni who have served or are currently serving our country. Vice President, Mr. Ruland visited other school buildings in order to gain inspiration for our district’s Wall of Honor design. This development ended up being one of the board’s proudest recent achievements.
With this, the BOE has several enticing plans for this school year. Their top priority is the safety of the students. One improvement is changing every door in the High School. These new doors lock automatically, which further ensures the security and well-being of all East Islip students and teachers. Additionally, these doors can open only with staff ID cards, which alleviates key issues and assures that only warranted visitors can get in. Mr. Ruland says “When it comes to students and their safety, money is no issue.” This truly captures the overall character of the board by showing that everything the board does will always have the students at heart.
The week of October 14 – 18, is New York State School Board Appreciation Week. It is evident that the Board of Ed does everything in their power to enhance our community, recognize the community’s needs, and enable students to thrive as proud members of the East Islip School District. Now that you know all that the BOE does for East Islip, make sure to say thank you if you see a board member or take some time to appreciate the advancements this school and community, as that would not have been possible without the help of our five incredible members that make up the East Islip Board of Education.
