Highlights from the June 9 LB Board of Education Meeting

Long Beach School District’s Board of Education began its June 9 meeting with special recognitions for both students and staff members.

Participants in the WordMasters Challenge and Odyssey of the Mind competitions were recognized for their accomplishments, while a number of teachers were granted tenure and celebrated with a short reception. Additionally, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss announced that Long Beach Middle School was officially authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School for the Middle Years Program.

 One team of elementary school students advanced to the Odyssey of the Mind world level, and another achieved second place in the regional contest. Long Beach Middle School teams placed first and second in the regional championships.  In the WordMasters Challenge program, LARC students placed third in the nation in the overall competition, earning a cumulative score of 550 points out of a possible 600. They also placed fifth in the nation in their final meet.

Thirteen highly dedicated and devoted staff members were commended for reaching a momentous point in their careers as they received tenure.

The administrators who work most closely with Nicole Albani, Lauren Andersen, Randi Baier, Cornelius Campbell, Kathleen Coners, Jillian Fernandez, John Graziano, Lorie Hartfield, Anne LaPenna, Soribeth Milito, Grace Parisi, Lorraine Pross and Miguel Rodriguez shared remarks about these accomplished individuals, and made it clear that they go above and beyond the responsibilities of their roles.

 Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito provided a presentation on per pupil costs, comparing Long Beach’s expenditures with those of neighboring districts. The Long Beach School District is considered an average need/resource district, based on a state capacity index that weighs the estimated poverty percentage and the Combined Wealth Ratio. Its total per pupil expenditure for school year 2012-13 is $129,370,780. This total expenditure figure includes all expenditures contained in the General Fund, Special Aid Fund and Debt Service Fund. The presentation outlined the components of this value, which include general education and special education instruction, transportation, debt service, community service and district-wide administration. The specific general and special education per pupil costs are derived from three complex formulas. The full presentation is available on the district’s website, www.lbeach.org.