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Island Drafting & Technical Institute celebrates 50 years
A graduate of 1985, Silvia Serafin, who knew the founder, described him this way. "He was always there for the students and he knew their names," she said. "Mr. D. had his hand in the community and the business community." Today, the school is operated by "Mr. D's" sons, John G. Di Liberto and his brother James, and the business is truly a family affair. John joined the family business in 2002 after his father Joseph Liberto died. His brother James' career spans 35 years at the school as an administrator. In 1960, the school moved to Amityville when the Amityville Post Office relocated. "The Village of Amityville is a good spot; we like the location," said John speaking of the 128 Broadway location. "Amityville is our past, as well as our future." In 1997 Island Drafting became a college offering an Associate degree in 15 months. Currently the school has several hundred students and 25 trained faculty members who continue teaching and turning out students ready to enter the work field. The school also assists in the placement of its students first in part-time positions in the last phases of their schooling and then offers placement for full-time positions after graduation. Alumni Ron Sierra, class of May 2007, agreed that the school offers a lot of opportunities. "I had 14 interviews, which included the top three companies, one in New York City, one in Westchester, and one on Long Island," he said. "You dive into a big pool of opportunities after graduating from the school." John said the school attracts serious students who want to move on to exciting, new careers. "People don't come here to find themselves, they already have." A current student, James Wharry, due to graduate in November, has been very satisfied with the school. "It's great," he said. "It helped me out a lot." The school does offer tremendous opportunities for those who want to advance themselves into the architectural field. "It was a good education and work program and was a terrific experience," said Serafin, a member of the advisory council for the school who has worked in the placement department. Beyond the success it helps its students achieve, the school has been a binding force for the DiLiberto family, which has worked together through three generations. John recalls how, as a young boy of 7, he worked at the school in the summer, emptying garbage pails and handing out flyers for classes at Republic Airport and Grumman Aerospace. "It is where the family goes," said John whose children and brother's children have continued the tradition working there during the summer months and after school. Sierra agreed that the school demonstrates a family like atmosphere, "It is a family business and you feel like family." The school celebrated its 50th Anniversary June 28. Many current and former students attended, as well as administrators and faculty. As for the future, DiLiberto said he sees a bright future for the school, right here in Amityville. "We know the folks and the folks know us," he said. Mayor Peter Imbert would agree because the school has been a long time fixture in Amityville. "Island Drafting and Technical Institute is a staple in the village," he said. "It's an asset to the village and the family is a 'class act'."
But the school's notoriety apparently goes well beyond Amityville's borders. According to Sierra's experience with his interview, the school's positive reputation in the industry preceded him. "I went on interviews and asked if they wanted to see my drawings," he said. "Once they heard I came out of Island Drafting, they said that was all they needed to know."
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