Directors acted decisively Dec. 1 during their reorganization meeting. Shannon Patrick was tapped as temporary chair to oversee the nomination of board leaders, which was completed about a minute later.

Basilio Bonilla Jr. immediately nominated Mike Faccinetto to retain his seat as president, and this was met with unanimous approval. "Thank you for that vote of confidence," he told his fellow directors.

Faccinetto then opened the floor to vice president nominations and Eugene McKeon quickly proposed Joe Biden fill the seat. Joining in the laughter, Faccinetto specified his request and Patrick was accepted without opposition.

Directors, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy and technology officers later discussed a project and the possibility of acquiring a government grant to help cover the expense of massive districtwide wireless technology upgrade.

Nick Takacs attended his first meeting as the district's new technology officer on his very first day. Roy asked him, "Any comments on your first day?"

"I'm coming back tomorrow," Takacs replied cheerily, and did so, taking time the next day to answer follow-up questions regarding the upgrade and the district's hope for the E-Rate tax.

E-rate is a tax on phone bills instituted nationwide in 1997 that directly contributes to public school technology support. It began as a means of getting or improving email and other electronic services in schools and libraries, but a new change in the law next year will focus on high-speed broadband to support ever-improving mobile instruments.

Takacs said an estimated full wireless network overhaul already being planned by the district, estimated to cost $2 million, could benefit from an up to 80 percent reimbursement through the program. The district hopes to apply for Requests For Proposal for contracts in January and completion of the project for next school year while simultaneously benefitting from E-rate Modernization Act.

The Federal Communications Commission E-rate document is available at https://apps.fcc. gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-14-99A1.pdf.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at East Hills MS.