Schools: Mineola aids flood victims upstate

A collection of school supplies in Mineola is having a big impact on upstate students displaced by Tropical Storm Lee.

Mineola School District's six schools joined forces last month to collect thousands of supplies -- ranging from notebooks to pens to gently used backpacks -- for two elementary schools that suffered major flood damage from the storm. The district also donated classroom furniture left from the closing of Cross Street Elementary School in Williston Park.

The items were delivered by Superintendent Michael Nagler -- using one of Mineola's box trucks -- to Owego Elementary School and MacArthur Elementary School in Binghamton. The two schools combined have more than 1,300 students.

"A school is a place you call home, and we feel for those school communities," said Nagler, who has ties to the region as a graduate of Binghamton University. "Fortunately, our community always seems to respond to people in need."

The collection was the idea of local residents Phyllis Badinger and Robin Bischoff, who grew up in Binghamton. They advertised about the collection on the Mineola district website and Facebook, inviting parents to bring in donations during back-to-school and meet-the-teacher events.

The result was some 100 boxes of supplies, which were packed into a 14-foot truck by the high school's custodial staff on Sept. 22. About a dozen volunteers from the upstate schools helped to unpack the truck when Nagler arrived.

"We're hoping our contribution will help in some way," said Bischoff, who titled the districtwide collection The Golden Rule Project. "The idea is to treat others the way you like to be treated and pay it forward."

ELMONT

Rap star visits

Clara H. Carlson Elementary School launched its annual Community Read Program last month with the help of rap legend Darryl McDaniels, a founding member of the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. McDaniels was a guest speaker at the kickoff event and talked to children about the importance of reading, writing and homework.

The program invites community members -- ranging from parents to local legislators -- to periodically read to kids at the school and engage in activities based on the books' messages.

LAWRENCE

New appointments

Gary Schall has been appointed superintendent of Lawrence Union Free School District, replacing John Fitzsimons, who retired. He previously served as the district's deputy superintendent for curriculum, instruction, music and technology.

In other news, Jennifer Lagnado is the new principal of Lawrence High School, replacing Geoffrey Touretz. She previously served as a science teacher and assistant principal of operations at the school.

Jennifer DeSena is the new principal of Number 5 School, replacing Helene Levine.

COUNTYWIDE

Museum partnership

More than 200 elementary and middle school students from the Freeport, Uniondale and Westbury school districts will have the opportunity to learn in a museum setting via a partnership with Nassau BOCES and the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

The program -- called the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Magnet Academy -- will see students take physics, math and robotics classes at their districts and then periodically travel to the museum to use its collection of air and space craft to study the technology behind the exhibits.

"The museum provides a rich learning environment that can't be duplicated in a classroom," said Carolann James, supervisor of instructional programs for Nassau BOCES.

ISLANDWIDE

Grant program

Long Island schools eager to advance education with technology have the opportunity to apply for $100,000 in grants from Jericho-based telecommunications provider Optimum Lightpath. Applications, available on the company's website, are being accepted through Monday and are open to public and private elementary and secondary schools.

Grants will be awarded based on criteria that includes how a school would use the funds to create new initiatives, improve the overall education experience, and promote "distance learning," which means using technology to teach students with information sources not physically in the classroom.

Winners will be announced next month at Optimum Lightpath's Long Island Education Technology Conference, where Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano will present checks. Optimum Lightpath is a division of Cablevision, which owns Newsday.