Half Hollow Hills district seeks steering committee to ponder closing schools

Half Hollow Hills School District officials are seeking members for a steering committee, which will provide input on school facilities and recommend up to two schools to close.
All Half Hollow Hills schools are slated to remain open in 2013-14, but board president James Ptucha said officials will be looking at possible closures the following year amid declining enrollment and tight finances.

The committee will include representatives of the administration, teachers, the Parent Teacher Association Council, special education parents, transportation, attendance, buildings and grounds, and the business community. There will also be a representative from each of the following communities: Melville, Dix Hills, Wheatley Heights, Farmingdale, Deer Park and East Northport, as well as an educator in the community. There also will be residents representing each of the district’s 11 buildings.

Those interested in serving on the committee should send an email by May 20 to district clerk Rosanne Marini at rmarini@hhh.k12.ny.us. The email should include: name and address, contact information (home and cellphone numbers and email), and which area the applicant is interested in representing.

The steering committee will begin meeting next month and will complete its work by October. Residents who want to be on the committee must be available from 7 to 9 p.m. on June 6, June 18, July 11, Aug. 1, Aug. 22, Sept. 3, Sept. 12, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.