Ramming debunks hacking rumor

by Lynn M. Dziadaszek
Grand Island Dispatch, May 28, 2004

Grand Island Central School District Superintendent Dr. Thomas M. Ramming debunked rumors Monday night that a student had hacked into the district’s e-mail system.

“No teachers’ e-mail was broken in to,” Ramming said following concerns from Board of Education President David Goris. Rather, a student at the high school figured out a way “to replicate what looks like a Grand Island School District e-mail.”

The student’s parents received the forged e-mail, which included the name of a Grand Island teacher. The e-mail stated the student is performing in class at a higher level than is actually the case, Ramming said.

Ramming informed other students attending the meeting – most for a social studies class – that the offender’s actions did not go unpunished. The student received a five-day suspension, he said.

“It is no different than forging a signature,” Ramming said. “While (the student) gets an “A” for originality, he gets an “F” for poor judgment.”

Other News

In other news the board:

• Received a revised version of the district’s code of conduct for students. School districts throughout New York were required to have a code of conduct in place as of July 2001, said Carol Jones, director of pupil personnel services. Districts have the opportunity to review, amend and adopt changes to the code each year.

“The code of conduct is the backbone for our disciplinary policy and the regulations for student behavior,” Ramming said.

The Grand Island code spells out district expectations for students in several areas, including dress and behavior. The comprehensive, 80-page document also includes a copy of all forms used for disciplinary action.

Proposed changes this year primarily include the correction of typographical errors as well as modifications to the layout.

“This year there were no substantial changes at all to the code,” Jones said.

A copy of the code of conduct is available by request at the district office.

Trustees will review the code during the next few weeks and vote to adopt the document at the June meeting.

• Awarded contracts for science supplies at Connor Middle School to Wards Natural Science Est. Inc., based on a bid of $1,163.67; and Frey’s Scientific, based on a bid of $1,068.80.

• Eliminated five teacher aide positions effective July 1.

Tenure Granted

• Granted tenure effective Sept. 1 to the following teachers and teacher aides: Tracy Ruppel, Stacey Zahradnik, Stephanie Rodomski, Teresa Corso and Nancy Pioli, teaching assistants; Amy Hopkins, Deanna Schoenberg, Andrea Solecki, Diane Lipp, Francis Burczynski, Tanya Gallagher, Julie Roth and Jill Koelmeyer, elementary education; Susan Schultz, Debra Killian and Tracey Shores, special education; John Head, Robert Collard, Lee Nowocien and Sean Reddien, science; Julie Slowinski, Sarah Bifaro and Marlene Winkler, mathematics; David Lilleck and Kevin Murray, social studies; Ardeth Kasahara, English; Jill Ungaro, English as a second language; Mary Smith, business; Amanda Becker, foreign language; and Dana Allen, art. The board also granted tenure, effective Oct. 29, to Jodie Rudney, special education.

• Received a report of the recent school budget vote and board of education election results. District residents on May 18 approved a $40.6 million spending plan for the 2004-2005 school year by a vote of 1,109 to 966. Voters also elected newcomer Michael Dallessandro and incumbent Jeri Lynn Schopp to three-year terms on the school board, as well as George Casey to a two-year term. Residents also approved the purchase of school buses by a vote of 1078 to 972.

• Voter turnout in the May 18 election surpassed that of recent years, with more than 2,100 people visiting the polls, said District Clerk Nancy A. Sandford. Of those people, more than 1,100 were first-time voters who registered that day, she said. Not since 1995 have more than 2,000 people cast a ballot on budget vote and trustee election day in Grand Island.

• The board’s next meeting will be Monday, June 14, at 7 p.m. in the high school senior cafeteria, 1100 Ransom Road.