Islip Superintendant
& Islip Board of Education
Islip Public Union Free School District (IUFSD)
211 Main Street
Islip, NY 1751
July 26, 2007
631-859-2201
Dear Mr. Van Cott, Mrs. Catherine Romano, Mr. Nelson Couvetier, Mrs. Mary Dennis,
Mr. Thomas Leggio, Mr. Al Cooley, Mrs. Laura Paehr and Mrs.
Myrill Solaski
It has been brought to the attention of the Islip SchoolWatch that the Islip
School District has been in non-compliance to the FAPE Law (Free and Appropriate Public Education). On December 01, 2006 all New York School Districts were
notified by the New York State Education Department that school districts must provide to students calculators and other
non expendable items such as protractors and compasses; and under no circumstances should
a student be charged or otherwise be requested to purchase any of the above mentioned non-consumable items. If you need a
copy of the NYSED December 01, 2006 letter, Please follow this link to obtain said letter, http://emsc32.nysed.gov/mgtserv/decisions.shtml
As per the New York State Education Department, student
“supplies” are defined
as something which is consumed in use, loses its appearance and shape in use, is expendable and inexpensive. Calculator’s,
protractors and compasses do not fall into this category and therefore should not be included on the student’s supply
list. As of June 2007, Islip Public Schools last published and distributed Student Supply List includes all three of these
items.
We request the following action be completed so Islip School District
is in compliance to the December 01, 2006 NYSED letter and Free and Appropriate Public Education Law (FAPE).
1. A letter is to be sent
from IUFSD to all parents of Islip students notifying them
of the changes in the supply list,
no later than the second week of August.
2. A second letter is to be sent from IUFSD, it is to be enclosed
within the Welcome Back Packet and
an updated supply list sent out to all the parents for all grade levels of Islip
Students.
3. IUFSD will prepare and
distribute an updated supply list for all grades, This updated Supply List will be
sent out to all local school supply stores, no later than then mailing of the Welcome Back Packet to Islip Students/Parents.
Please forward us a list of the store receipt confirmation along with a copy of what they received.
4. IUFSD will distribute prior to September 3, 2007, a detailed letter in all Islip School District staff mailboxes
informing them of Islip’s changes to the Student Supply List and current compliance to the N.Y. State Education Departments Dec. 1, 2006 letter, explaining what “student
supplies” are and what “consumed in use” means.
It is imperative that the actions specified above are implemented in a timely manner. We ask that you keep up updated via our E-mail address so we may share your successes. If the above actions are not taken,
Islip SchoolWatch may need to make it publically known that Islip Union Free School District is in non-compliance to the December
01, 2006 NYSED letter and Free and Appropriate Public Education Law (FAPE) and
has been knowingly been in non-compliance since December 2006 and a Civil Action Suit for reimbursement may be considered.
Let it be known that we are a proactive community-based
collective striving to promote transparency and fiscal responsibility, as well as compliance with New York mandated regulations with all school districts. Our intentions are to achieve Excellence
for all in Islip. Any and all corrective actions made by The
Islip Union Free School District will be considered and may be made publicized. Please
send all correspondence to islipschoolwatch@yahoo.com Your immediate attention would be greatly
appreciated. We look forward to working together to build a stronger community.
Respectfully,
Islip SchoolWatch
E-Mail: IslipSchoolWatch@yahoo.com
Web: http://skoolwatch.tripod.com
cc: George Deabold – SchoolWatch
Frank
Gerace – SchoolWatch
