Ottaviano vs. Kings Park Central School District et al.
The Kings Park Central School District is pleased that this litigation has been resolved. Under the settlement agreement the district will not be obligated to pay any money. The matter has been resolved to the district’s satisfaction.
We want to remind all of our students and parents that the district’s eligibility policy remains in effect. Any student who uses or possesses alcohol or drugs on school grounds will be suspended from all athletic and extracurricular activities for one year.
The above is the statement posted on the Kings Park School District Web site.
Ms. Ottaviano is a senior at Kings Park High School who admitted to bringing alcohol to a school sponsored event. The school district took the position that this was a violation of an agreement that Ms. Ottaviano had signed. The consequences were significant for Ms. Ottaviano who was barred from participating in extra curricular activities throughout the school year. Ms. Ottaviano’s school record was noted with the violation.
See Article below
Update on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:35AM by
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By Erica Jackson
2009 KP Girls SoccerIt sounds like an episode from Beverly Hills 90210, but it’s not. Kings Park High School senior Nina Ottaviano has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the school district for suspending her from all extracurricular activities after she admitted to providing a bottle of alcohol to a fellow student.
“The bottom line is that we think the punishment is overly harsh,” said Jeffrey Brown attorney for Ottaviano. “She has been suspended from all activities in her senior year. It is a hypocritical policy — other male student athletes, who have come to school drunk, have not received such a penalty.”Nina Ottaviano - Girls Soccer 2009
Earlier in the school year, Ottaviano,17, gave a friend a hair spray bottle containing alcohol. She says she obtained the rum from another student. Ottaviano’s friend was caught with the bottle on a bus taking students to the Brentwood Country Club for a party. Ottaviano came forward and admitted giving the liquor to the student. She was suspended from activities as was her friend.
The suspension, said Brown is detrimental to Ottaviano’s chances of getting into college. “Her family spent a lot of money for lessons to help her get into a college. Her school athletics should have given her an extra edge.” Prior to her suspension, Ottaviano was involved in soccer, basketball, the honor society and she sat as the editor of the school newspaper. Brown says it is hoped that the lawsuit will prompt the district to allow Ottaviano back into sports and instead give a different punishment. For example, Brown suggested not allowing Ottaviano to go to her prom. “We are hoping to sit down with someone at the school. But so far the school is not willing to budge,” said Brown.
When asked to respond to the situation, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Agruso, said the district has posted a comment on its website. It reads, “We cannot comment on whether or not there is litigation pending or threatened. The district’s Code of Conduct and Eligibility Policy are posted on the district’s website.”
According to the district’s code of conduct, possessing alcohol is a level V infraction, which calls for “up to permanent loss of privileges; a superintendent’s hearing; community service; referral for counseling; removal of student from calendar year from extra curricular, co-curricular and athletic activities; mandating attendance at outside agency such as AA or Alanon; removal from all honor societies; and a police report.”
With the lawsuit all over the news, articles have appeared in Newsday and on CBS news, Brown says Ottaviano is now dealing with bullying in and outside of school. Just this week, Ottaviano received death threats on her Facebook page. A second Facebook page dedicated to Kings Park High School has provided an outlet for Kings Park residents to comment on the issue.
One poster wrote, “Common reality is most kids in all schools go to prom and senior dinners drunk so why would they go hard on a sober girl with just a bottle. Schools are corrupted I guess.” Another wrote, “While, yes, I do agree that there should definitely be consequences, I’m not sure the punishment fits the crime. But what pisses me off even more, is that Kings Park discipline is so inconsistent. Football players have brought alcohol to school sponsored events and weren’t pulled off the team.”
Snow is everywhere! That is the phrase you hear most often when you visit the Branch Shopping Center on Main Street in Smithtown. The January 12th snowstorm dumped as much as 18 inches of snow in the area. While people expect to see snow piles, no one was prepared for what they saw at the Branch shopping center. “Mt. Waldbaums,” is the name given the huge pile of snow by Waldbaums’ employee Joe Furtunato and an unnamed customer.
What is most perplexing to anyone who visits the Waldbaums shopping center is the decision to pile snow directly in front of the windows at Waldbaums. The pile of snow which measures 18 feet high, according to Waldbaums employee Ronnie Buell a student at Kings Park High School, blocks the windows, takes up handicapped parking spaces, and blocks the visibility of the entrance.
The Manager of Waldbaums, Michael Fitzpatrick, was surprised but understanding. In a phone conversation with Mr. Fitzpatrick on Friday January 14th he said, “There was a lot of snow dumped on us and while I am not thrilled with the placement of the pile of snow, I have confidence that the landlord, Acadia Realty Trust, will be removing it shortly. Tonight if not tomorrow.”
Tim Harris, the front-end manager of Waldbaums was surprised to see the snow pile, but he said on Thursday the 13th, “While every customer has something to say… he has not received any complaints.” Did he think the contractor could have done a better job? “Yes, the snow piled in front of the store makes it difficult for people who may have special parking needs or difficulty walking and need to have easy access to the store.”
One customer, who only gave her name as Lynne, felt that people were making too much of a big deal over the pile of snow. “There are bigger problems in the world than Smithtown’s snow. Snow removal is difficult and they did a fine job.”
Kerri Mckeever, Kings Park resident and co-owner of 5th Street Paving in Bay Shore, knows quite a bit about snow removal. Her company has the contract to pave Islip Macarthur Airport. Her reaction to Mt. Walbaums, “with all of the challenges that this storm presented and there were many, it’s just not right to have the pile of snow placed in front of the store.” Ms. Mckeever acknowledged the difficulty many contractors are having with the removal of snow with limited places on site to put it. “However, there seemed to be room on the periphery of the property to place the snow rather than placing it directly in front of the store. In many instances, phase two of the snow removal process begins the day after with pay loaders and trucks taking the snow to different sites.” That is what Manager Mike Fitzpatrick is expecting. “I have a good relationship with the landlord and expect that they will begin removing the snow soon. If not, I will not be as understanding as I am now.”
Tenant Rosalie Mallozzi, co-owner of the Smithtown Branch Barbershop in the same shopping center was smiling when she said “I have never seen anything like it. Even when I lived in Brooklyn where they would pile the snow on street corners. It is amazing to see this.”
Federal agents arrested Joanne Connelly, 48, of 167 Southern Blvd., Nesconset. Connelly, according to Newsday, headed a drug ring in Smithtown that trafficked in the sale of the drug roxicodone a substitute for OxyContin. Connelly was released on $500,000 bail.
“We’re ready,” said Glenn Jorgensen, Smithtown’s Superintendent of Highways, “ We have 6,000 cubic yards of sand and salt stockpiled and ready to go when needed.”
With forecasters predicting a major snowstorm in our area tonight into tomorrow morning Glenn Jorgensen is not taking any chances and not taking any shortcuts. With some snowstorms you have some flexibility as to when and how many crews you call. This time forecaster’s snow predictions are in the six to fifteen inch range with high winds as well, therefore, “ when the first snowflakes fall the call will go out to all crews. That means everyone and everything will be working,” said Jorgensen.
Roadwork will be done in three phases salt and sand in the beginning, plowing until all roads are clear and then the follow up with salt and sand as needed. Drifting snow is expected to create areas where re-plowing will be necessary. The town will be sending out around 100 town vehicles and forty private vehicles to ensure that the roads are cleared as quickly and safely as possible.
Costs are covered in the Highway Superintendent’s budget. This storm is estimated to cost about $200,000 but Jorgensen says that he has the money in his budget and his priority is keeping the roadways clear of snow.
What would Glenn Jorgenson like the residents to do? Stay off the roads unless it is necessary. Stranded vehicles make the work of snow removal much harder. Don’t park on the streets. If you own a snowplow blow the snow on your lawn and not into the street!
Jorgenson would like the people of Smithtown to know that “Smithtown will maintain its roads the way they have been doing for many years.” Glenn Jorgenson expects the same results, satisfied residents.
Interim Chief Medical Officer Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Dennis Verzi, Christina Budriss holding baby Alexis Grace, Senior Vice President of Administration Gara Edelstein and Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Jennifer Logiudice Sunday, January 2 at 1:51 AM. Baby Alexis Grace Budriss was greeted by mom and dad, Christina and David Budriss three weeks early, but they were still very joyful to welcome the new little one to their family.
“We were not expecting Alexis to arrive three weeks early, as our other three children came on the scheduled due date or later,” stated Mrs. Budriss. In fact, it was so quick. We got to the hospital at 1:30
AM and by 1:51 AM, she was here!” The Budriss family has welcomed all four of their children at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center and was happy to receive the gift basket arranged by Bella Casa Florist, including a $100 gift card to Babies R’ Us, along with other assorted baby items.
For more information about Maternity Services at St. Catherine, please call (631) 870-3444 or visit www.stcatherinemedicalcenter.org.