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DEC tells ASD to add to drainage plan at high school; School board votes to establish new athletic administrator The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has told the Amityville School District that it must redesign its drainage for the new tennis courts at the high school, and include leaching fields. Initially, the district had a direct system into drainage pipes, but the DEC wanted a system that would spread out the rainwater runoff from the tennis courts over a larger area before introducing it into the system to avoid flooding. "By putting in the leaching fields, the water runoff will be spread out and then drain into the system slowly," said Enrique Catalan, the district's superintendent of business who worked with the DEC on the project. An initial plan was to put (the drainage system) under the tennis courts, but that was scrapped when concerns were raised that this system could undermine the integrity of the concrete, eventually cracking it, said Catalan. The project for the installation of the leaching field will cost an additional $50,000, but Catalan said that the district has saved money in other areas. Those savings will be used to offset the additional cost of the leaching fields, maintaining the project on budget. In addition the school board selected colors for the tennis courts. The decision was to use a dark red and grey color scheme. "We are in good shape and the work is on time," said Catalan who added that the district expects the tennis courts and most of the other work projects to be completed when school opens in September. "We believe everyone will be pleased with the quality of what we have put into place," said Dr. Brian De Sorbe, school superintendent. In other school matters, the school board approved a recommendation from De Sorbe to establish a new administrative position, director of physical education, health and athletics. The director would be responsible for managing the entire program and supervising the personnel within those disciplines. Currently, the district has an athletic director who is part of the teachers bargaining unit so the district is limited in its ability to supervise people because they are in the same unit, explained the superintendent. The system in place, which has no bearing on the quality of the individuals within the programs has not provided students with an understanding of the basic skills needed to participate in a variety of athletic programs, said De Sorbe. "What I have observed in my time here in Amityville is a disconnect between the programs," he said. "What should be happening is that our students should be exposed to the skills needed for the athletic program on a daily basis, from grades K-12. This will allow them to have the athletic experience as they move up through the grades." School Board Trustee Dennis James agreed, saying that by having an athletic director, the district will have significantly more representation at regional athletic conferences, which translates into more exposure for the district and its students. With athletic directors also having teaching responsibilities, their presence at these conferences is not always possible, said the superintendent.
There will be 12 people in the department, with no athletic directors position. The board is discussing hiring an interim director and will be considering a candidate at its meeting in September.
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