At the North Shore School Board's annual organization meeting this past Thursday July 5th, the seven members unanimously elected Trustee Toni Labatte President and Trustee Sara Jones Vice-President for the 2016-17 school year.  Dr. Herman Berliner, who served as President the previous three years, shot his hand up quickly to throw his support behind Ms. Labatte, Vice President the past two years, when schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick asked for nominations, as is done annually and is required under state law at the Board's early July meeting.  No other Trustees were nominated for the position.  Following the vote, Trustee Joanna Commander nominated Ms. Jones for the second leadership post, which was also uncontested. Additionally, Trustee David Ludmar was sworn for his first three year term on the board and Trustees Jones and Marianne Russo for their second, and Betty Ciampi, once again, as District Clerk.    

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TRUSTEES DEBATE WHETHER TO RESTRICT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
At its special meeting this past Thursday evening, the seven members of the North Shore School Board debated whether or not to limit public comment at their regular meetings to residents only, excluding non-residents from the opportunity to address the board in that forum.  Currently, anyone can address the board at their regular meetings, regardless of their residency.  This past year, during two meetings, non-residents spoke - first, when representatives of the group Ramapo thanked the board for it's support to have a state monitor oversea the Rockland County district's school board and again, this past May when two non-residents offered their thoughts regarding the rubber mulch that serves as a protective carpet at the District's elementary school playgrounds.  In past years, non-residents spoke out against the discontinuance of Italian as a foreign language offering.  
This past Thursday evening, Trustee Marianne Russo said that she supported such a limitation.