New Vice President Named to Hampton Bays School Board

The Hampton Bays School Board on Tuesday night named Doug Oakland president and Chris Garvey as vice president during a brief re-organizational meeting.

Oakland has been on the school board for the past three years, and this is the fourth time he has been appointed president. This will be Garvey’s first year as vice president; he is replacing former board member George Leeman.

At the same meeting, new school board member , who owns a charter fishing business in Hampton Bays with her husband, John Capuano, was sworn in for her first term on the five-member board.

At the meeting the district announced it will complete $406,000 worth of  renovations this summer. The biggest project, at $300,000, is the renovation of the district’s 1971-vintage high school kitchen, according to Lars Clemenson, school district superintendent.

“It will add capacity to prepare foods – healthier foods – and will be ready by the start of school,” Clemensen said.

The money for the kitchen comes from the cafeteria fund, and does not impact the tax rate, Clemensen said. The cafeteria account had a profit the past couple of years, and the district saved money in order to update kitchen.

The remaining $106,000, which comes from money left over from the 2009-2010 school year and also does not impact the tax rate, will go toward updating three high school classrooms, changing out ventilation systems in locker rooms, rehabbing the boiler in the elementary school and fixing a sidewalk, Clemensen said.

In other school district news, five new staff members will be hired for the next school year. Hampton Bays is currently screening and interviewing candidates for English, foreign language, music and elementary school teachers.

The positions came from a combination of retirements and resignations, according to Clemensen.

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