Miller Place Board Makes Interim Superintendent Permanent

Susan Hodun's position as interim superintendent for the  has been made permanent, according to the district's board of education.

At its most recent meeting, the board's president James Moran said the board won't conduct a search for a permanent superintendent to replace Hodun, who took the reigns in May from Agatha Kelly when she retired. Hodun had previously been the acting assistant superintendent for the district.

"The board of education has been extremely satisfied with interim superintendent Susan Hodun," Moran said. "We won't spend taxpayer money in search of a superintendent."

Increasing Grade Weighting

Also at the meeting held Dec. 23, board members discussed increasing the grade weighting at Miller Place schools. After research into neighboring districts, the board found its grade weighting was lower than those in the surrounding area, specifically for Advanced Placement courses. No resolution was passed on the issue, but those opposed to increasing the weighting said universities un-weigh grades anyway when deciding senior's acceptance.

"I think our weighting is perfect," said Ryan DeVito, the student body's representative to the board. "It doesn't give you a false sense of security. We have a better sense of what we know and what we don't."

Footing the Bill for Robotics Team Advisers

's robotics team could seal a spot at nationals this year if it wins an upcoming competition at Hofstra University. However, expenses for the trip to St. Louis in April haven't been factored into the school's budget, a fact the superintendent isn't taking lightly.

"The concern I have is that this is not a budgeted expense and we know what we're facing this year with the budget," Hodun said. "We're trying to be conscientious at all levels."

The school would only have to cover the travel expenses of team advisers for the trip, as team members and their parents will be paying their own way.

Hodun said the total bill would be between $4,000 and $5,500 for the competition.

Parents of robotics team members and the team's coach all argued in favor of the motion, and of robotics in general. Many said former robotics team members have gone on to become engineers and one parent said robotics got his son an internship.

No formal vote was taken on the matter, but Hodun said the board was in favor of the team.

"We've made the decision to support robotics and the pay the advisers' way," she said.