BOE Recap: Updates on Bond, County Sewer Tax Litigation

The Board of Education unveiled its statewide ELA and Math testing schedules for grades 3-8, and offered updates on the current sewer tax lawsuit against Nassau County and where the district stands on a bond for district-wide improvements during Wednesday's briefing session.

Chris Pellettieri, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said that ELA testing for grades 3-8 will contain three books — with a 70 minute time limit per book excluding a short break — and will start on April 17. The second book will be administered on April 18, he said, and the final on April 19.

Pelletieri said that during testing at the elementary level, the district may need to move grades K-2 out of the building to accommodate testing, as well as possibly staggering start times at .

The three books for the statewide Math test — Pelletieri said he has not received guidance on what's in the books — will be administered starting on April 25, the second on April 26 and the final on April 27. He added that ELA exams need to be scored prior to giving the math exam. "There is more to come," he said in terms of information and details on both exams.

Update on Bond and Sewer Litigation

Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Johnson said he's received prices for district-wide improvements and hopes to meet with a committee of Board of Education members and school representatives in February to determine what a district-wide bond would look like.

The district continues, in conjunction with several other school districts on Long Island, with its litigation against Nassau County for its imposed sewer tax. Johnson said he believes the tax is wrong and does not know how long it will be before a determination is made. He did say that the district budgeted $100,000 for the tax if it were to lose the lawsuit.