Jennifer Schildkraut

The William Floyd School District has recently appointed Jennifer Schildkraut as the new Assistant Business Manager and Purchasing Agent for the William Floyd School District. In this role, Ms. Schildkraut will report directly to David Beggins, Assistant Superintendent for Business, assisting him in all business office functions from budgeting, contract negotiations, facilities, security, transportation and more. She will also work with internal and external claims auditors, state aid, annual financial reports, as well as reporting and operations of the William Floyd School District.

Ms. Schildkraut has more than 16 years in the financial services field including the past 15 in school finance as a member of the William Floyd School District Business Office. At William Floyd, she served as an accountant and the past five years as district clerk.

Ms. Schildkraut earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mount St. Mary’s University and a Master of Science in Education from Long Island University where she also received her NYS School District Business Leader (SDBL) certificate.

William Floyd boys’ varsity soccer takes on Comsewogue in a Brookhaven Summer League game.

The boys’ varsity, junior varsity and girls’ varsity soccer teams are using Brookhaven’s Summer Soccer League as an opportunity to develop their young student-athletes, teach the fundamentals of the game and enhance team chemistry. The season is more than halfway through and all three teams have found success. Both boys’ varsity and junior varsity have winning records and are at the top of their divisions. Girls’ varsity is right in the middle of their division, with a record hovering around .500.

Girls’ varsity soccer battles Centereach in a summer league game.

“Summer league is an opportunity to get the kids playing and getting together to build chemistry and morale,” said Paul Paniccia, boys’ varsity and junior varsity summer head coach. “As coaches we get to observe players and the team so we can start planning for the upcoming fall season.” Both varsity and junior varsity boys’ soccer programs have achieved success in previous summer league seasons, with varsity winning the championship in 2016 and junior varsity in 2017.

“This season isn’t just about playing in summer league, these girls play or work out five days a week if not more,” said Kaleigh Nolan, girls’ varsity summer head coach. “They are improving their speed, strength and skill each and every day and as a coach I couldn’t be prouder of these kids who are working hard to better themselves, their team and this program.”

This league is a tremendous opportunity for William Floyd’s younger student-athletes to get acclimated to the higher level of play before the school year starts up again. “Summer league allows us the flexibility to give some of our junior varsity players an opportunity to play at a varsity level and some of our incoming eighth graders some experience playing at the junior varsity level,” said Paniccia.

Boys’ junior varsity aims to repeat as summer league champions.

As important as it is for the student-athletes to develop their skills, it’s equally as important for the coaching staffs to use this season to help their players gain a better understanding of the game. “Our team is growing and improving every day,” said Nolan. “Our number one goal for improvement is to play together and to come together as a team. I have seen growth in just about every player throughout the summer season.”

Along with youth, both varsity teams have plenty of experienced players entering their senior season. The boys’ team consists of nine seniors – Sebastian Paniccia, Mert Altun, Ethan Loarca, Jonathan Vanegas, Anthony Garcia, Nicholas Pantelidis, Jefferson Guerra, Dylan Maceroni and James Mulvaney. “Most of the players have been playing in our school program since they were in seventh grade,” said Paniccia.

The girls’ team has seven seniors – Haley Cruz, Makayla Willets, Danielle Zacher, Heather Strong, Melany Pagan-Rosario, Gabriella Iadanza and Brianna Ditillo. “These girls play many different roles on this team,” said Nolan. “They have been playing together since middle school, and some even back to Mastic Sports intramural days.”

Even though the summer league may not be as intense or as high stakes as the fall season, the soccer program here at William Floyd is still taking full advantage of the extra season. “The program as a whole is steadily improving each and every day thanks to the hard work and commitment shown by our student-athletes,” said Mark Mensch, Athletic Director, William Floyd School District. “The dedication by our coaches in helping them develop is already yielding positive results both on and off the field.”

More photos are available in the flickr album below!

Click here to view the William Floyd School District calendar for the 2018-19 school year! This calendar contains dates for school events, closings, Board of Education meetings, testing dates, etc. It also provides contact information and general district information, as well as several district policies and listings, which can be found on pages one through 11.
A printed version of this calendar will be sent to all homes in the community during the second week of August.

If you’re looking for the single page calendar for the 2018-2019 school year, please click here.

William Floyd’s annual Teachers’ Story Corner Summer Reading Program has begun, featuring some of the district’s elementary school teachers reading their favorite books to preschool and school-aged children at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library each Wednesday night and Thursday morning through August 16.

The program, created six years ago, was formed with the intention of increasing and improving contact with children and their families over the summer. It is also designed to promote and offer literacy experiences for children entering school and for those who are already in school. Parents can meet with teachers and librarians to receive assistance regarding the location of books within the library and how to pick out developmentally-appropriate books and materials.

“I get a chance to talk with parents of incoming kindergarten students and new district residents and answer questions they may have about their new school,” said Wendy Gross, program founder and a kindergarten teacher at the William Floyd Learning Center, who also serves as a member of the Library Board of Trustees. “This program is also a great way for special education students to integrate with their typically developing peers.”

The program has been a tremendous success and continues to grow and reach more students each summer, averaging approximately 50-75 students per week.  “I became a member of the library board six years ago with the goal of helping the community, which includes working closely with the library staff and school district to find ways to collaborate,” added Mrs. Gross.

Children of all ages are welcome to come and stay for one, a few or all of the stories. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not necessary.

William Floyd Teachers’ Story Corner Program remaining schedule:
Wednesday, July 11, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, July 12, 10-11:30 am
Wednesday, July 18, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, July 19, 10-11:30 am
Wednesday, July 25, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, July 26, 10-11:30 am
Wednesday, August 1, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, August 2, 10-11:30 am
Wednesday, August 8, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, August 9, 10-11:30 am
Wednesday, August 15, 6-6:30 pm
Thursday, August 16, 10-11:30 am

Moriches Elementary School Principal Deirdre Redding reads a book to students at the Summer Reading on the Lawn event.

Moriches Elementary School in collaboration with the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library (MMSCL) recently held its first ever “Summer Reading on the Lawn” for students to enjoy fun and educational stories along with snacks and refreshments in an entertaining and relaxing atmosphere. Deirdre Redding, Moriches Elementary School principal, Nikki Stallone, Moriches Elementary School assistant principal, along with 16 teachers and Rich Mugno, William Floyd Committee on Special Education Chairperson, and his certified therapy dog “Whill,” gathered on the school’s front lawn to read children’s books that were selected by the students.

“This is our first year hosting this event, but we are hoping to make it an annual summer tradition at Moriches Elementary,” said Ms. Redding. “We want to help promote and generate excitement for reading and its importance over the summer.  We planned this event as a fun way to gather our school community together to listen to books read by their beloved teachers and administrators as well as provide an opportunity for access to books from our local library.”

Along with the opportunity to hear great stories read by William Floyd teachers, students had the opportunity to register for their own library card and take a book home with them thanks to the district’s partners at MMSCL who attended with their reading van and tent.

There will be a second “Summer Reading on the Lawn” this Wednesday, August 1 at 10 am (rain date August 2 at 10 am) on the front lawn of Moriches Elementary School. MMSCL will once again supply dozens of books that will be available for checkout. The Moriches Elementary PTO will also be in attendance supplying snacks and drinks. The event is open to all William Floyd community members.

Moriches Elementary’s “Summer Reading on the Lawn” is just one of many reading programs available for William Floyd students this summer. Other programs include the Elementary Summer Literacy Program held in the high school through the middle of August – Session II begins on July 30 (click here for student information sheet/registration takes place at the high school main office), as well as the William Floyd Teacher’s Story Corner” that is held in the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library through August 16 every Wednesday night and Thursday morning (click here for schedule). All literacy programs are still available for students to participate in.

Summer is here. You may be thinking about what your child will do for meals while school is out. The good news is that the William Floyd School District has once again partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to serve free breakfast and lunch to our community, even their guests! It’s food that’s in, when school is out. There are no income requirements and any child ages 18 years old and younger may come to eat at no charge. This program is completely self-sustaining and there is no cost to local residents. Breakfast will be served from 7 am to 9:30 am; and lunch between 11 and 1:30 pm in the William Floyd High School cafeteria, 240 Mastic Beach Road, Mastic Beach, Monday through Friday between July 9 and August 24, 2018. Please use the south entrance.

Menus:
July Menu
August Menu

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE FLYER

In preparation for your child’s entrance into kindergarten, our elementary team will be conducting a screening as part of NYS Commissioner’s Regulations. The purpose of the screening is to identify your child’s strengths, and to provide important information to guide his/her unique kindergarten experience. This screening will consist of exercises that determine basic academic skills, motor skills and oral language.

The screening will take place at Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary on the following dates by appointment only:

• June 4 – 7 (4-7 pm)
• June 11 – 15 (4-7 pm)
• June 26 – 29 (8 am – 1pm)
• August 6 – 9 (8am – 1pm)

Please visit the following link to schedule your child’s kindergarten screening appointment: http://signup.com/go/sThtpdm. You will be prompted to enter in information about your child and select a time for screening that works best for you and your family. If you are unable to schedule your appointment online please call Arlene Oldham at 631-874-1132, or email her at aoldham@wfsd.k12.ny.us. If you get a voicemail, please leave a message with your name and phone number and your call will be returned. If your child is currently enrolled in Just Kids within one of the elementary buildings they will be screened before the end of the school year, so you do not have to make an appointment. Please complete the Parent Questionnaire that was mailed to you and bring it with you to the screening appointment or send it in with your child to their Just Kids teacher.

We are looking forward to working in partnership with you and watching your child grow socially, emotionally and academically!

If you would like to view the Kindergarten screening letter (in English and Spanish), please Click Here.

The William Paca Middle School Jazz Choir performs at the Jones Beach amphitheather.

Toward the end of this past school year, the William Paca Middle School Jazz Band and Jazz Choir had the amazing opportunity to perform on stage at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, tour the facilities including the backstage suites, the green room and get an up-close look at the technical gear that is used to help make the performances a success.

The William Paca Middle School Jazz Band performs.

Upon arrival at the venue, students and teachers were greeted by Adam Citron, the General Manager at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater and Live Nation, and several technical advisors. Mr. Citron met with students and teachers, and provided a summary of how a professional group or solo artist prepares for an evening performance — from transportation, sound checks, technical set-up and backstage accommodations. He also discussed the job of a crew member and the schooling involved for those interested in pursuing a career in the industry.

After the tour, the theater’s technical department helped unload the equipment from the buses, and the Jazz Band and Jazz Choir performed on the same stage where some of the world’s most famous musical artists have performed.  “It was an exhilarating experience for the students and the directors,” said Joseph Cordaro, William Paca Middle School music teacher and Jazz Band director.

“We hope this experience ignited a spark in one or more of our incredible students to foster their musical growth,” added Michelle Seifert, William Paca Middle School music teacher and Jazz Choir director. “It was a great opportunity for the students to feel what it is like to be a ‘rock star!’” she added.

After the performance, students enjoyed a lunch provided by Mr. Citron and the venue in the VIP room.

“Providing real-life performance connections in a well-known venue such as the Jones Beach Theater and its rich history is truly a day that will be an enduring memory for the students,” said George Ober, Coordinator of Music, William Floyd School District. Mr. Ober added special thanks to William Paca Middle School security guard James Curatello, who made the connection with officials at Jones Beach Amphitheater for this once-in-lifetime opportunity.

Please enjoy two clips below!

The William Floyd School District will be holding a job fair for Facilities and Security positions on Thursday, August 9, 2018 in the William Paca Middle School cafeteria. Please view the list of job opportunities below.

William Floyd School District
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: William Paca Middle School cafeteria
338 Blanco Drive, Mastic Beach, NY, 11951

Facilities Job Opportunities
Several Full-Time Custodial Positions (days and evenings):
A variety of shifts and schools are available
Starting salary: $32,743 (includes excellent benefits package)

One Full-Time Grounds I Position (days)
Starting salary: $33,319 (includes excellent benefits package)

One Full-Time Maintenance Mechanic II Position (days)
Starting salary: $32,884 (includes excellent benefits package)

Substitute Custodial Positions
$12/hour (no benefits)

To schedule an interview for facilities positions, please send your resume to: wfjobposting@wfsd.k12.ny.us and
cc: Jolie Mohn at jmohn@wfsd.k12.ny.us
(Previous applicants need not apply)

Substitute Security Guards (must have valid security guard license)
$17/hour (no benefits)
To schedule an interview for security positions, please send your resume to: wfjobposting@wfsd.k12.ny.us and
cc: mstam@wfsd.k12.ny.us
(Previous applicants need not apply)

Please click the photo to see some of the positive news stories featured about the William Floyd School District from June 25, 2018 through July 31, 2018. You can also view it by clicking here!

Click here for previous monthly recaps!

This past spring, parents and students of the incoming freshman class gathered at William Floyd High School for Freshman Transition night, an evening designed to help incoming ninth graders get acclimated to high school and learn about all the academic and extracurricular offerings including Career and Technical Education programming, science research, music, fine arts, athletics, clubs and more. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions, tour the building and view a video, “Dare to be Great!” focused on helping students kick off their high school careers in a spectacular fashion. Freshman Only Day will be held on Wednesday, September 5! Please enjoy the video below!

At the special Board of Education meeting held on Friday, August 10, the Board approved a new transportation contract with Acme Bus Corp. Please see below for a summary of the reason for a new bid and approval.

In 2016, the William Floyd School District entered into a five-year student transportation contract beginning in the 2016-17 school year with East End Bus Lines. As required by state law, the contract was awarded to East End Bus because they had submitted the lowest responsible bid for transportation services of the companies who submitted bids. Consequently, the district entered into a contract consistent with East End Bus’s lowest responsible bid which set forth the annual amount the district was to pay East End Bus for transportation services. Within the first two years of the contract, however, the owner twice demanded additional compensation under the threat of cessation of services including the latest demands in July 2018 for an additional $16.5 million over the three remaining years of the approved contract, which is unreasonable and unauthorized by the competitive bidding law. Accordingly, as responsible stewards of the community’s resources, the district found it necessary to rebid the contract.

The William Floyd School District will continue to act in good faith with the community’s resources and has notified the New York State Comptroller’s Office and the New York State Department of Education about this matter.

Please know that the district has been working feverishly over the past several weeks to get a new provider in place and ready for the opening of school in September. As a result, the Board of Education awarded the transportation contract to Acme Bus Corp. at the August 10, 2018, emergency meeting. The district will work with Acme Bus Corp. to ensure that minimal disruptions occur and will notify the community of our progress along the way. We thank you in advance for your patience.

William Floyd High School offers a driver education program to eligible William Floyd students. In order to be eligible, a student must be 16 years old and be in possession of a valid learner’s permit or junior license. Seniors will be scheduled first. All students are chosen by date of birth not “first-come first-served”. The maximum students for the program are limited to 80. Students will attend class for a total of three (3) hours per week; which includes 90 minutes of lecture and 90 minutes of in car instruction each assigned day. Students must attend every scheduled session in order to meet the attendance requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, in cooperation with the New York State Education Department. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be issued a certificate of completion (MV_285). The MV-285 certificate is needed for a student obtain a class D license on the student’s 17th birthday, along with an auto insurance discount.

We have three (3) sessions; fall, spring and summer.
Applications for the fall session are due in District Office by 08/29/2018

Completed driver education applications need to be dropped off (between 8am – 2pm) or received by mail in District Office by 8/29/2018. Students will be notified by letter if they have been accepted into the program. Applications are not kept on file; in the event that the student is placed on the waitlist, a new application must be submitted for each semester in which they are applying. A fee of $400 and a clear copy of a learners permit will be due at the specified time in the acceptance letter. For further information please call the driver education office between 8 am and 11 am at (631)874-1678.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE SCHEDULE AND APPLICATION

Participants and volunteers in the fifth William Floyd Bicycle Academy program.

William Floyd occupational therapist Ed Diaz helps a student learn how to ride.

The William Floyd Bicycle Academy, a program founded by occupational therapist Ed Diaz, just concluded its fifth summer of helping children learn how to ride a bicycle. This summer was the Bicycle Academy’s largest yet with an increase in participants and volunteers in the program as approximately 50 students joined with another 40 learning during integrated occupational therapy. From its inception in 2014, nearly 200 students have benefited from the William Floyd Bicycle Academy.

“There is such a need that people are constantly coming to me all throughout the year,” said Mr. Diaz. “This year we have had an influx in our general education population requesting to join the program. We accommodate as many as we can, always striving to provide one-on-one instruction.”

With learning how to ride independently being the long-term goal, many students made incremental progress along the way including learning how to balance, turn, pedal, start, stop, etc., which are all skills required to ride without assistance.

“I watch their determination grow with each phase, with each move forward and with each momentary difficulty. I hear their words of encouragement to themselves and to others. I see their confidence grow with each and every task tried, practiced and mastered. To me, watching the students’ self-esteem and sense of self-worth continue to grow and flourish is the most important aspect,” added Mr. Diaz.

The program could not be a success without a support system in place such as the volunteers from Carmella Currao’s class who work behind-the-scenes setting up the program each week, as well as Frank Brust, Laurel Colonna, Susan Dubois, Amy Nardi, Lisa Pedota, Ravi Seeram, Josh Young and more. It would also not be possible but for the generous donations from the staff and community including the United Paraprofessional & Teaching Assistant Association, which donated three balance bikes this year.

The William Floyd Bicycle Academy is scheduled to return for a sixth year next summer. All William Floyd students and parents are more than welcome to join, whether as a rider or as a volunteer. Anyone interested is encouraged to email Mr. Diaz at ediaz@wfsd.k12.ny.us.

Additional thoughts by Mr. Diaz on seeing students gaining confidence in themselves
“The feeling I get is hard to describe. Of course most people understand the pride students feel when they master components of riding a bike or master riding. In our bike program, we have a wide variety of differing needs depending on the unique requirements of our students, some of whom would, in other bike programs, be deemed as having needs that are too involved, require specialized equipment, etc. In our program, we take in all of our students and work with their strengths to help them achieve their specific goals. So, for me, watching the euphoria when one of our students achieves his or her goal is an indescribable feeling especially when a student was deemed or perceived by others to be ‘unable’ to ride a bike (i.e. due to motor delays, physical issues, attention span, learning and planning difficulties, etc.). It’s like witnessing a person experiencing the feeling of hitting a hole in one in golf, or a grand slam in baseball for the very first time. There are really no words to describe it. Of course I am extremely proud of how hard they try, of each and every accomplishment they not only achieve, but also of the ones they strive to achieve. Watching their boost in confidence is a truly gratifying experience for me and it is something I continue to be in awe of. It is the driving force behind what we do and it never gets old.”

In an effort to help new and incoming middle school students become familiar with their building, both William Floyd Middle School and William Paca Middle School will be hosting walkthroughs on Tuesday, August 28. These self-guided tours are designed to help students locate their lockers and classrooms before school starts so they become comfortable with their school. Students must be accompanied by an adult.

School locations and times
William Floyd Middle School: 630 Moriches-Middle Island Road, Moriches, NY 11955.
Walkthrough: Tuesday, August 28, 10 am-12 pm and 4 pm-6 pm.

William Paca Middle School: 338 Blanco Drive, Mastic Beach, NY, 11951.
Bridge Crew (for sixth graders only): Tuesday, August 28, 10-11 am. Incoming students will meet with their Bridge Crew and tour the building. Parents are welcome to attend a brief informational meeting about the middle school transition in the auditorium. Following the Bridge Crew meetings, parents are encouraged to assist their children in finding their classrooms.
Walkthrough: Tuesday, August 28, 11 am-1 pm and 4 pm-6 pm.

Have a great school year!

The William Floyd Colonials boys’ varsity lacrosse team recently concluded an excellent Town of Brookhaven Lacrosse Summer League season with a 10-0 regular season record (first place in their division), a thrilling come-from-behind playoff victory and an appearance in the championship game.

Although the summer lacrosse season is not as high stakes as the in-school spring season, it is a great opportunity for the student athletes to continue their growth and development within the William Floyd system, according to varsity head coach Desmond Megna.

“The benefits (of summer league) are that the kids continue to play with their high school teammates and build continuity within our system,” said Coach Megna. “This summer I took a different approach that I believe will pay dividends in the spring.”

That different approach in coaching style included the addition of two former William Floyd players, Eric Brust and Victor Olivero, to the coaching staff. “Both Eric and Victor know the system as well as our on- and off-field expectations of the boys. Sometimes it’s good to hear another voice,” said coach Megna.

One of summer league’s most valuable components is that it allows the coach to evaluate players that have not previously had large roles with the team. It also allows the coach to see areas of potential strengths and weaknesses going forward.

“Offensively I think we saw a more team-oriented offense with an emphasis on sharing the ball. Players like Bryan Lubitz, Ronale Thomas and Noah Taylor are becoming major threats. While other players who maybe didn’t have a large role last year like Timmy Mullally stepped up and made significant contributions.”

Coach Megna added that Matt Olivero has been a nice surprise taking over for the best goalie in the county last year, Andrew Brust, who graduated in June after a record-breaking 221-save season filled with accolades including Academic All-American. “Olivero had a great summer and earned himself several college looks,” added Coach Megna.

Another standout player for Coach Megna was Jezayd Hall who he describes as “the most consistent player and probably the MVP of the summer who has cemented himself as one of the top face-off guys in the county.”

A tremendous summer campaign only raises the expectations for next spring. Coach Megna expects his team to be among the best on Long Island, battling in the playoffs where anything can happen. “This summer the boys have created a buzz and there is a little bit of hype around them. We have to have a solid fall and winter to show that the hype is justified and deserved!”

After a stellar regular season and a top playoff seed, the Colonials participated in a tournament-style playoff, battling Middle Country in their first game. After falling behind in the first half, the Colonials stormed back, tallying two goals in the final three minutes to send the game to overtime. William Floyd scored the game-clinching goal only a few minutes into the overtime period, defeating Middle Country and advancing to the championship game against Comsewogue, a top-seeded team in their division with an equal 10-0 record. Unfortunately, the Colonials fell short in the championship game, finishing up their season second-place overall in the Town of Brookhaven Lacrosse Summer League.

Congratulations to Coach Megna, the entire coaching staff and the student athletes that put together a fantastic summer season! See more photos in the album below!

The 2018-19 school year is almost upon us with school beginning on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 for grades K-9 and Thursday, September 6 for grades 10-12. Below is important information that will come in handy. Have a great school year!

Parent Portal

The 2018-19 student schedules (grades K-12) will be available on the parent portal by 5 pm on Monday, August 27, 2018. Please verify that your username and password are working.
You can access the Parent Portal on the William Floyd School District web page by clicking on the Parent Portal link located under quick links on the right side of the web page or by clicking here.

If you have any difficulty logging on, please email parentsupport@wfsd.k12.ny.us or click on the “problems logging in link.” This feature will also take you to the parent support email address.

For first time users looking for detailed instructions, please click here. This link also contains links to video guides to assist you with logging on, using and navigating the site.

School Supply Lists

John S. Hobart Elementary School
Moriches Elementary School
Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School
Tangier Smith Elementary School
William Floyd Elementary School
William Floyd Middle School
William Paca Middle School
William Floyd High School: School supply information will be provided to students on the first day of school by their teachers.
Floyd Academy School supply information will be provided to students on the first day of school by their teachers.

Walkthroughs/Open Houses

John S. Hobart Elementary School: No formal walkthrough scheduled/parents can call to request one.
Moriches Elementary School: Walkthrough, Thursday, August 30, 9 am – 11 am
Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School: Tuesday, September 4th, 12:30-2 pm
Tangier Smith Elementary School: Walkthrough, Friday, August 31, 9 am – 12 pm
William Floyd Elementary School: No formal walkthrough scheduled/parents can call to request one.
William Floyd Learning Center: Open House, Monday, August 27 at 12 pm
Click here for middle school walkthrough information.
William Floyd High School: Freshman Only Day is Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Floyd Academy new student orientation and truncated bell schedule: Wednesday, September 5, 11:30 am – 3:30 pm

Student Health/ Meal/ Athletics/ Registration/ Miscellaneous Information

Student Health Website

School Meal Information
Free and reduced meal applications (Online applications will not be available until after August 28, 2018. Paper applications will be mailed to all households and can also be printed from the website (linked here). No applications will be processed until after August 28th – you will then receive a letter in the mail letting you know what you have qualified for. If you have any questions you can email:

Athletics Information and Forms

Central Registration Information

2018-19 William Floyd School Calendar (full)

Single-page school calendar

Employment Opportunities

Register your child for Universal Pre-Kindergarten

School links and direct contact information

John S. Hobart Elementary School
Moriches Elementary School
Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School
Tangier Smith Elementary School
William Floyd Elementary School
William Floyd Learning Center
William Floyd Middle School
William Paca Middle School
Floyd Academy
William Floyd High School

The William Floyd School District provides 100% busing for its nearly 9,000 students from each of the district’s 10 schools including six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high school programs. As of August 10, 2018, the William Floyd School District has a new transportation provider due to the former vendor, East End Bus Lines, defaulting on a five-year contract and demanding additional compensation in the amount of $16.5 million over the three remaining years of the contract under threat of cessation of services. Acme Bus Corp., the district’s new transportation provider, has worked extremely well with the district over the past two years of serving the summer transportation contract. Acme Bus Corp. is in need of a full complement of large bus drivers to ensure that William Floyd students are transported to and from school in a timely manner when school opens on Wednesday, September 5. Please apply to Acme today by calling (631) 471-4600 or in person at their Medford yard, 30 West Yaphank Road in Medford. Ronald and Lori Baumann, along with representatives from Acme Bus Corp., will also be in district office from 9 am – 3 pm each day through Friday, August 24, to accept applications and answer any questions.

About and working for Acme Bus Corp.

• Q: Is the new vendor, Acme Bus Corp., a responsible company?

  A: Acme Bus Corp. has provided summer transportation for William Floyd students for the past two years and has lived up to the provisions of the contract seamlessly. Additionally, Acme Bus Corp. has been in operation for nearly 60 years and currently services numerous school districts including Commack, Northport, Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Middle Country and more.

• Q: Why did you go with the lowest bidder in the new transportation contract?

  A: By law, local municipalities must use companies that provide the “lowest responsible bid.”

• Q: Does the new bus company have all the drivers it needs to run the routes?

  Not yet. They are actively recruiting and hiring for September. The current priority is hiring large bus drivers, but they are also hiring van drivers and driver assistants. Please contact Acme Bus Corp. at
  (631) 471-4600 to apply. You can also apply at the Medford yard. 30 West Yaphank Rd, Medford. The owners, Ronald and Lori Baumann, along with representatives from Acme, will also be in district office from 9 am – 3 pm through Friday, August 24, to answer any questions and accept applications.

• Q: What is Acme offering regarding salary and benefits? Are there daily minimums? Mid-day park-outs? Sick days? Snow days?

  A: Yes, Acme offers benefits for full-time employees. The wages are as follows:
  • Large bus drivers will make $22.80 per hour with increases as scheduled;
  • Van drivers will make up to $19.15 per hour with increases as scheduled;
  • Driver’s assistants will make $14.15 per hour with their 10-hour certificate; driver’s assistants who do not have their 10-hour certificate will make $13.45 per hour with increases as scheduled;
  • A sign-on bonus of up to $1,500 and a referral bonus of up to $1,000 for previous William Floyd drivers is offered. Drivers on William Floyd routes who don’t qualify for the sign-on bonus due to an accident or other circumstances, will receive a $200 sign-on bonus after completing one year of service.
  • Acme Bus Corp. allows mid-day park outs for drivers residing in the William Floyd School District.
  • Sick days – five for each employee per year if the 60-day probationary period is completed before September 1; three sick days for drivers whose probationary period concludes by December 1. During the following year, drivers receiving three sick days will see an increase to five sick days.
  • Drivers/driver assistants will be paid a maximum of six snow/emergency days per school year.
  • Acme Bus Corp. has a five-and-a-half hour (5.5) minimum guarantee for two reports for large bus drivers and a five-hour (5) minimum guarantee for van drivers and driver assistants for two reports, although most work days will be longer than that.
  • All drive time is paid, which includes from the yard to the first pick-up and back again at the end of the shift.

• Q: Will the salary change at any point?

  A: Acme Bus Corp. is in negotiations with their union and any changes in rate of pay will be retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

• Q: If I accept a position with Acme Bus Corp., will I lose my seniority?

  A: Acme Bus Corp’s current union, Local 1205, has agreed to honor large bus driver seniority for two years for drivers who previously drove William Floyd routes. These large bus drivers will pick first within their seniority from the William Floyd routes. After the two years have been completed, the seniority list will join together with the Local 1205 current seniority list for large bus drivers, with the previous William Floyd drivers who start on the first day of the 2018-19 school year. Because all of the drivers will have the same date of hire, their seniority for that date will be based upon their previous seniority order. 

• Q: I heard Acme Bus Corp’s buses are really old. Is this true?

  A: Acme Bus Corp. just purchased 65 brand new buses (zero mileage) to service the students of the William Floyd School District. The average age of Acme buses for William Floyd routes is approximately four years old.

• Q: If I accept a position as a driver for Acme Bus Corp. servicing William Floyd, how far will I have to drive each day to pick up my bus?

  A: The vans will be housed in a parking lot of the William Floyd School District for the first year, with details and plans of the location in the works. The large buses will still be housed at the Acme Bus Corp. Medford yard located at 30 West Yaphank Road in Medford, which is a 20-minute drive from the centrally-located district office, 240 Mastic Beach Road in Mastic Beach.

• Q: When does a driver’s workday start?

  A: As previously mentioned, Acme Bus Corp. pays all drive time which includes from the yard to the route and back again at the end of the shift.

• Q: As a large bus driver, do I have to bring the bus back to the yard in between pick-ups?

  A: Acme Bus Corp. will provide mid-day park-outs to drivers living within the William Floyd School District or any location in between the Medford yard and their route.

Previous contract defaulted by East End Bus Lines

• Q: Wasn’t East End Bus Lines only asking for the money that the district promised in the contract when they requested an additional $16.5 million over the final three years of the contract ($5.5 million per year)?

  A: No. For the 2016-2017 school year, which was the first year of the contract with East End Bus Lines, East End received payments totaling $12.7 million for the services they provided. In the second year of the contract (2017-2018), East End received payments totaling $12.2 million for a total reduction of approximately $500,000 due to an East End/WFSD mutually agreed upon restructuring of routes.

• Q: Since $12.7 million and $12.2 million were paid to East End, what happened to the rest of the money that was budgeted for transportation?

  A: East End Bus Lines was not the only expenditure in the transportation budget. The transportation budget included costs for East End Bus Lines, summer transportation provider (Acme Bus Corp.), transporting out-of-district placements including special education, homeless students and transient students, as well as liability insurance, software, salaries and benefits for William Floyd employees working in the district’s transportation department. Any surplus from this category, like any other surplus, is allocated to legally-allowed reserves such as the capital and repair reserves established to fund the forthcoming capital project overwhelmingly approved by voters in October 2017. Additionally, any surpluses in the past have been used to pay down early any outstanding debts/bonds from previous construction and capital projects, which saves the cost of interest over the long term, similar to a private homeowner paying off a home mortgage early. This smart and responsible fiscal planning and operation is a primary reason why the William Floyd School District’s credit rating received a boost to Aa3 by Moody’s Investor Services in 2016 and the reason that the tax levy rate was decreased by $1 million in 2017.

• Q: Rumors have been spreading that the district did not pay East End Bus Lines for the past several months. Is that true?

  A: That is incorrect. The district has acted responsibly in all facets of the agreement with East End. Had the district defaulted instead of East End Bus Lines, the district would not have been able to rebid the contract. Additionally, cashed check receipts from the district to East End Bus Lines can be accessed via a Freedom of Information Law request.

• Q: Was East End paid in full and up front for the entire five-year contract?

  A: No. East End received all that they were entitled to during year one and year two of the contract.

Miscellaneous

• Q: Why isn’t the district requiring that Acme Bus Corp. hire drivers/assistants at their previous rates?

  A: It is illegal for the William Floyd School District or any government entity to compel a private company on who they should hire and at what rate. While the district would very much prefer that the previous employees work for Acme Bus Corp., it cannot compel a private company on its hiring practices. Those labor relations matters are between the union and the company. However, the district has made its thoughts known that it is preferable to hire current drivers who are already familiar with the community and its routes. Acme Bus Corp. has expressed the same interest in hiring the previous bus drivers to fulfill its new routes in order to keep the continuity and get William Floyd students to school in a timely manner in order for them to get the most out of their education.

• Q: Can the William Floyd School District just purchase its own buses and hire the drivers and driver assistants as its own employees?

  A: Some districts have chosen that route, but bringing all of those expenses in house such as fuel, insurance, a bus yard, maintenance, repairs, salaries and benefits, along with the cost of state pension contributions, would result in a much larger expenditure for transportation than is currently in place. Again, had East End Bus Lines fulfilled its contract, the district, it’s nearly 9,000 students, the drivers and driver assistants would not be in this position.

• Q: Will Acme Bus Corp. lose the contract if they are unsuccessful in hiring the required number of drivers necessary for normal school operations? And if so, will it go back to East End?

  A: No. The William Floyd School District is working with Acme Bus Corp. to try to minimize any disruptions to the opening of school for our students. The district fully understands the challenges that Acme Bus Corp. is facing in hiring a driving fleet of this size so close to the beginning of the school year and will work with them to help them be successful. East End or any other business owned and operated by that vendor will never service the William Floyd School District again.

• Q: Will there be delays at the beginning of the school year and any disruption to the education of our children due to this situation?

  A: Should Acme Bus Corp. be successful in hiring the necessary drivers, we expect the normal “start of the school year” hiccups to occur due to proud families taking photos of their children on the first day of school, drivers becoming familiarized with the new routes, etc. Should Acme be unsuccessful in hiring the necessary drivers in time for the beginning of the school year, there will be delays. The district is planning for either scenario and will inform the community along the way of any plans to ease this transition.

  Please know that the William Floyd School District has been and will continue to remain good stewards of the community’s resources and will not acquiesce to unreasonable and illegal demands for compensation. We thank you for your patience during this transition and hope you understand that it was the right thing to do.

In response to the bus driver informational forum held on Thursday, August 23, the Acme Bus Corp. is providing additional incentives to former William Floyd bus drivers who start on the first day of school. Please see details of the additional incentives in the video and listed below.

Acme Bus Corp’s NEW offer to former William Floyd large bus drivers who start the first day of school includes:

• Large bus drivers can pick within their seniority for two years;
• The probationary period has been waived;
• An additional $600 bonus given to large bus drivers after 12 weeks of work (on top of other bonuses including signing bonuses up to $1,500 and referral bonuses up to $1,000 as outlined below)

Compensation package:

• Benefits for full-time employment;
• Large bus drivers will make $22.80 per hour with increases as scheduled;
• Van drivers will make up to $19.15 per hour with increases as scheduled;
• Driver’s assistants will make $14.15 per hour with their 10-hour certificate; driver’s assistants who do not have their 10-hour certificate will make $13.45 per hour with increases as scheduled;
• A sign-on bonus of up to $1,500 and a referral bonus of up to $1,000 for previous William Floyd drivers is offered. Drivers on William Floyd routes who don’t qualify for the sign-on bonus due to an accident or other circumstances, will receive a $500 sign-on bonus after completing one year of service;
• Acme Bus Corp. allows mid-day park outs for drivers residing in the William Floyd School District;
• Sick days (non-probationary employees – five per year);
• Drivers/driver assistants will be paid a maximum of six snow/emergency days per school year;
• Acme Bus Corp. has a five-and-a-half hour (5.5) minimum guarantee for two reports for large bus drivers and a five-hour (5) minimum guarantee for van drivers and driver assistants for two reports, although most work days will be longer than that.
• All drive time is paid, which includes from the yard to the first pick-up and back again at the end of the shift.

Acme is actively recruiting large bus drivers, van drivers and driver assistants, please call them at (631) 471-4600. Once these spots are filled, there will be no more opportunities for drivers on William Floyd routes.

Click here for a Frequently Asked Questions sheet and additional information regarding East End Bus Lines’ demand for an additional $16.5 million of taxpayer funds.

Click for News 12 report

Please view the below video from Superintendent of Schools Kevin M. Coster regarding important information to the community about the current transportation situation caused by the district’s former vendor East End Bus Lines.

Additionally, Acme Bus Corp. is providing additional incentives to former William Floyd bus drivers who join Acme and start by the first day of school. Information and video linked here.

Click here for a Frequently Asked Questions sheet and additional information regarding East End Bus Lines’ demand for an additional $16.5 million of taxpayer funds.

Click for News 12 report