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To create more of a connection between the school board and students at the Dunkirk High School, the board added a student board member for this passing school year. Dunkirk Student Council President Bridget Mackowiak, who has sat with the board during its meetings this year, will be graduating at the end of the month and a new student board member will be taking her place this fall.

"I learned a lot, and I always knew what was going on. I think I surprised my teachers at times," Mackowiak joked. "I met a lot of people who were very useful. I met Mr. Abbey and we set up the Zero-Sort Recycling at the high school which was pretty cool."

Although Mackowiak spoke only for the first time during the board's June 18 meeting regarding the National Honor Society, it is the board's intentions that the position create a line of communication for board members and students that they might not otherwise have available.

"I think it worked great. Bridget was a wonderful student to have on the board and last night (June 18 regular meeting) was a perfect example of a student perspective; her sharing some insight that we might not have had on the situation," Superintendent Gary Cerne said. "The student board member is not something we've had in the past, but I've seen other district s do this and with great success."

Mackowiak is planning on going to SUNY Oswego where she hopes to major in photography or graphic design. Newly elected Student Council President, Mariah Laird will sit in on board meetings as the student member beginning in September 2009.

In other news:

During his reports, Cerne noted the last two years' worth of math scores for the district and the improvements that they've shown. "The last two years for third graders we've increased 23 percent for students meeting proficiency." Cerne went on to say that the fourth graders have increased the number of students meeting proficiency by 18 percent, fifth graders by 31 percent, sixth graders by 42 percent, seventh graders by 49 percent and eighth graders by 29 percent. "Our math scores are doing well and I want to compliment all of the teachers and staff. It's just outstanding for us as a district," Cerne said.

The old administration building is officially the property of Old Sarge's Surplus. Superintendent Gary Cerne said the building sale closed on June 15. He also said School 6 is still for sale.

Summer school preliminary numbers show more than 350 elementary students will be coming to the enrichment program at School 7. Between all summer school programs going on in the district, Cerne is expecting to see more than 600 different faces participate.

The old dugouts near the administration building have been torn down. They will be replaced next week by construction trailers most likely. "The roofers can't wait to get started so we'll start to see materials unloaded next week. We're just trying to stall them until after Regents exams. It's going to be exciting to see the work out there."

The board announced the summer school instructor appointments. Building administrators will be notifying those who have been approved for the July 6 to July 24 positions.

Predicting that the recent economic struggle will have a direct impact on assessments and the challenges that could be made, the board approved the transfer of $1,030,000 from the Tax Certiorari Reserve Fund of the district to the General Fund, on the basis that, such monies must be so returned on or before the first day of the fourth fiscal year following the deposit of such monies in the Tax Certiorari Reserve Fund. The board also transferred $100,000 from the General Fund to the Unemployment Insurance Payment Reserve Fund for the purpose of paying the cost of reimbursement to the State Unemployment Insurance Fund for payments made to claimants.

A few appointments were made during the regular meeting. Joelle Vanegas of Blasdell, who has been the interim principal at School 4, was officially appointed as the building principal at a base salary of $74,700; Amy Pencek of Dunkirk was appointed to the position of elementary AIS math teacher at School 4 at $42,629; Kate Heinrick of Blasdell was appointed to the position of elementary AIS writing teacher at School 4 at $41,790; Cady Nenno of Fredonia was appointed to the position of elementary AIS writing teacher at School 7 at $42,629; 11 coaches were also approved for the fall 2009 school year.

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