Copiague School District’s Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 7. Brian J. Sales was unanimously elected and sworn in to serve as president of the board of education for his third consecutive term in that seat. Kenneth Urban and Anthony S. Pepe were elected and sworn in to serve as vice president and second vice president, respectively. District Clerk Mary Ellen Ruppert swore in the board officials.

Michael Higgins and Ledy Torres were each elected to three-year seats on the board of education in May. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon was also sworn in during the meeting.

Copiague School District administrators and Board of Education members recognized the faculty and staff members who will be retiring at the end of the 2020-2021 school year during the June 21 board of education meeting.

Copiague School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon, board of education members, district administrators and department chairs offered their congratulations to the 13 retirees, who have close to 350 years of combined service to the district. Retiring at the end of the school year are:

Brenda Bryant, security guard/resource officer, Copiague Middle School, 23 years
James Cleary, English teacher, Copiague Middle School, 18 years
Robert Clemens, custodial worker, Copiague Middle School, 25 years
Nickie Fradelos, cook, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, 34 years
Angela Rodriguez-Greaves, social worker, Deauville Gardens East/West, 23 years
Elaine Remstein, elementary teacher, Great Neck Road, 30 years
Karen Sheridan, assistant superintendent for student services, district, 19 years
Christine Sklar, speech teacher, Copiague Middle School, 20 years
Antoinette Spencer, physical education teacher, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, 23 years
Susan Weisenseel, senior office assistant, district, 21 years
John Williams , science teacher, Copiague Middle School, 21 years
Valarie Williams, speech teacher, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, 33 years
John Young, science teacher, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, 20 years

Copiague Middle School celebrated the many accomplishments of its eighth grade class with a moving up car parade on the evening of June 21. Teachers and administrators lined the sidewalk of the school, holding up signs and cheering on the class as they prepare for Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School next year. The future Class of 2025 decorated their cars, created banners and received their moving up certificates as they said goodbye to the middle school.

On June 10, the Copiague Middle School Builders Club donated 1,000 pairs of shoes for those in need to a local shelter. “This donation has brought our 10-year total to 10,000 pairs of shoes,” said club adviser Maria Ostrofsky. “We are more than proud and so happy to have helped a multitude of people throughout these years.” The club usually partners with Give Your Sole to collect the footwear and donate to shelters in New York City but wasn’t able to find a space for the donations due to the pandemic. This footwear donation was given to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless in Amityville. Pictured is Copiague Middle School Builders Club adviser Maria Ostrofsky with the donations.