Smoking in School Bathrooms, a Visit to Amity by CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Scholar Awards and the Price of School Parking Fees

The Amity Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening. In addition to Superindent John Brady's announcement that he'll be retiring at the end of the school year and his suggestion to the board regarding the makeup of Tropical Storm Irene days, the following happened:

• The board accepted a gift of $3,500 that was left over from the Class of 1961's 50 year reunion. The money will go toward the Howard and Marjorie Brooks Scholarship Fund at the high school.
• Twenty-five students were recognized as National Merit Scholar Semi-finalists and National Merit Scholar Commended Students.
• Twenty-four Career and Technical Education students and five teachers were also recognized for being Number One in the state in the Computer Information Systems and Nutrition, Food Preparation and Services Programs.
• In his student report, Thomas Falcigno let the board know that the freshman tailgate that was cancelled earlier this month has been rescheduled for Oct. 28. The Peer Tutors meet every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:30 to help students with homework. He also mentioned that the student council's SMILE Club is selling bracelets to help support education about children with facial deformities. 
• Falcigno appealed to the board to consider revamping the parking pass fee program. He said the student council would like to see the high school charge $25 per quarter as opposed to $100 per year for a parking space. He said students who receive their drivers licenses late in the school year will be more inclined to pay for the remainder of the school year as opposed to $100 for the entire year. The board is taking his recommendation into consideration.
• High School Principal Charles Britton told the board that the new video surveillance cameras have been a fabulous addition to the high school, but they've pushed smoking students from outside to inside the school bathrooms. In an effort to curtail smoking in bathrooms, administration closed most bathrooms at the high school last week, leaving students no choice but to use a couple of closely supervised restrooms. The closure left many students and parents upset, and Britton said bathrooms will not be closed again. He is considering installing untamperable smoke detectors in the school bathrooms. Students caught smoking pay are hit with a $75 fine.
• Brady said he's been asked to be interviewed in a CNN segment on healthy air quality. Plans are being made for CNN reporter Sanjay Gupta to come to Amity High School to interview Brady.
• Amity students will take part in the Sikorsky STEM Challenge. The program gives students authentic, real-life experience with the goal of encouraging students to pursue a career in engineering. Read more about the challenge here: http://www.sikorsky.com/About+Sikorsky/News/Press+Details?pressvcmid=ce53b15e069a2310VgnVCM1000004f62529fRCRD.
• The board of education was considering purchasing a service that text messaged information about school closures, but it has opted to encourage parents to utilize the local media text message options. WTNH and NBC Connecticut both offer a text message option.