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Board of Education
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To contact the Middle Country Board of Education, please e-mail boe@mccsd.net.
To contact the District Clerk, Stephanie Larkin, please e-mail slarkin@mccsd.net or call (631) 285-8011.
2024-2025 Board of Education
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Dawn Sharrock, President
Current Term: July 2022-June 2025
Dawn Sharrock is a proud resident of Middle Country for 16 years. She and her husband, Ron, are raising two daughters who attend Selden Middle School. Dawn was elected as trustee to the Board of Education in May 2016, and was elected 2nd Vice-President in July 2018. From 2014 to 2016, prior to being elected to the school board, Dawn was co-chairperson of the Legislative/Community Outreach Committee. Dawn now proudly serves as the chairperson. The committee actively advocates for equitable funding for the District and our students’ safety. The legislative committee has diligently advocated for legislation to be passed that would enable school districts to install and use cameras on school buses for the purpose of detecting and recording vehicles illegally passing a school bus. Additionally, since June 2014, Dawn has served on the Middle Country Educational Foundation Committee, and was elected as chairperson in September 2018. The Foundation provides scholarships and supports school clubs so that academic, technological, and career opportunities are made available to students. Dawn served the Middle Country PTA/PTSA Council as vice-president and was very active in PTA. She chaired many PTA committees and events, and was class parent. Dawn is knowledgeable about current educational issues and the state aid challenges that Middle Country faces. Dawn’s goal is to ensure that our students receive the best education while remaining fiscally responsible to local taxpayers.
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Robert Feeney, Vice President
Current Term: July 2022-June 2025
Robert Feeney and his wife, Roberta, have been residents of the Middle Country School District for 50 years. Mr. Feeney’s two children are graduates of Centereach High School. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Government, and advanced degrees from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook and St. John’s University. Mr. Feeney is a retired high school principal serving in that capacity for twenty years. He has served on the Middle Country Board of Education from 2013 to present, and previously from 1989-1992 and from 1993-1996. Mr. Feeney currently serves as the chairperson of the Educational Advancement Commission, which has implemented many academic changes for the students of Middle Country, including extended math classes from grades 6-10, an increased year of high school science, and a capstone project required for graduates of the class of 2024. He is, also, on the Policy Committee, the Evaluation Committee and the Communications Committee. He volunteers as an advisor to the New York State Youth and Government Program, which he has done for the last thirty-eight years.
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Arlene Barresi, Trustee
Current Term: July 2021-June 2024
Arlene has been a resident of the Middle Country community for over forty-three years. Her two children and their spouses are all Middle Country graduates; and two of her five grandchildren are currently attending Middle Country schools. Arlene has been committed to education for 34 years, employed as a school secretary, teacher aide, and special education teaching assistant with Eastern Suffolk BOCES. She has lobbied for education in Albany and in Washington, DC. Arlene's retirement took place in June, 2006, but serving on the Board of Education allows her to continue her commitment to education. Arlene's service to the community includes PTA and other school-related committees, religious instruction, Brownies and Girl Scouts. During the past three years as a board trustee, she has chaired and served on the Legislative/Community Outreach, Bond, Evaluation, Business Advisory Board and Safe Schools Committees. Arlene also serves as a board trustee for Eastern Suffolk BOCES.
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John DeBenedetto, Trustee
Current Term: July 2021-June 2024
John DeBenedetto has been a Middle Country resident for the majority of his life. He graduated from Newfield High School in 1990. He graduated from Stony Brook University with a B. S. in Biology and a minor in Business Management. His Master's degree is in Elementary Education from Dowling College and his post-master degree from Queens College is in School Administration. John has three children, two currently attend Hawkins Path Elementary and one in college. John and his wife, Kristin, currently live in Selden. John has been in education for over twenty-six years and currently volunteers for the local Cub Scouts troop and coaches at the little league level.
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Doreen Feldmann, Trustee
Current Term: July 2023-June 2026
Doreen has been a resident of Middle Country for 52 years. She and her husband Bill raised two sons, both graduates of Newfield HS, her alma mater. Doreen believes strongly in the value of community service. She has served on the school board for 15 years. This year she is on the Bond, Business Advisory Board, Drug and Alcohol Prevention Ad Hoc, Education Foundation and Green committees. The School Business Advisory board has made connections with sustainable businesses to further students’ job choices. This is something Doreen and her husband feel strongly about. In 2010, Doreen was named Environmentalist of the Year by The Times of Middle Country Newspaper, and in 2017, Doreen received an Outstanding Service Award from N-SSBA. She was a recipient of the NYS PTA Jenkins and Distinguished Service Award. Doreen is grateful for the opportunity to serve the children and residents of Middle Country.
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Denise Haggerty, Trustee
Current Term: July 2022-June 2024
Denise is a 38-year resident of Middle Country. She and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of four Centereach High School graduates and the blessed grandparents of five. Denise has held several volunteer positions within the Middle Country community including PTA president of Oxhead Road Elementary School and Dawnwood Middle School, two terms as a trustee and president of the Middle Country Library Board and a previous term as a member of the Middle Country Central School District Board of Trustees. Her experience in higher education affords Denise a unique and important perspective - one that will help ensure that Middle Country graduates are well prepared for the next step in their academic journey.
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Robert Hallock, Trustee
Current Term: July 2022-June 2025
Robert is a husband and father of three young children and a Middle Country resident. Robert graduated from Suffolk Community College in Selden and St. John's University with a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies. Robert is Police Officer for the City of New York. He loves being able to help the community he works in. Robert's commitment to community service includes diverse volunteer experiences from assisting clients with disabilities to helping our veterans. Participation in these types of programs gives him a unique understanding of some of the many issues our neighbors are confronted with daily. Since becoming a father, his interest in our community, its functions and specifically the Middle Country Central School District has become a passion. Given his background and experiences he believes he can be a catalyst to unify the many diverse opinions while maintaining a middle ground for the best interest of our residents, students, teachers, and staff.
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Deborah Mann-Rodriguez, Trustee
Current Term: July 2023-June 2026
Deborah Mann-Rodriguez is a proud alum of the Middle Country Central School District and Stony Brook University. She has been employed at Stony Brook University for approximately 22 years; mostly dedicated to supporting faculty members with acquiring funds for meaningful research from Federal, State, and philanthropic agencies. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor's in Health Science and Disability Studies and a Masters in Health Care Policy and Management, both from Stony Brook University. Deborah and her husband have two amazing girls that attend schools within Middle Country. One of Deborah’s main goals as a board member will be to encourage interest in the STEM fields among the students of Middle Country. Additionally, she will work to ensure that all students, parents, and educators feel safe, acknowledged and supported in this community while encouraging synergistic activities between Middle Country and the surrounding institutions of higher education.
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Kathleen Walsh, Trustee
Current Term: July 2023-June 2026
Kathleen Walsh has more than 25 years of experience as a government and public service executive. She is a strong advocate of proactive implementation of public policy and legislative strategies that enhance community growth and educational competitiveness for our students. Kathy is a lifelong resident, who, together with her husband, Bill, have raised three sons, all of which graduated from Middle Country. Kathy and Bill now have three grandchildren. Kathy was elected and served on the Middle Country School Board from 2001-2005 and served as Vice President from 2003-2005. In 2005, Kathy was elected to the Brookhaven Town Board, where she served until 2013 as Councilperson for the Third District and served as Deputy Supervisor from 2009-2012. Prior to serving as Town Councilperson and the Middle Country School Board, Kathy was very involved in the PTA and volunteered with the Selden-Centereach Youth and Selden Civic Associations. Kathy was awarded the 2011 Woman of the Year by the Times of Middle Country Newspaper, Suffolk County Woman of the Year, Distinguished Service and Circle of Leadership Award for Extensive Training by NYS PTA, and the Henrietta Acampora Award-Women in Government.
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Stephanie Larkin, District Clerk
Stephanie and her husband, Gerard have been residents of Middle Country Central School District for more than 30 years. They have three children, all of whom are graduates of Newfield High School. Prior to her appointment as District Clerk, Stephanie was Administrative Assistant to the Associate VP for Nursing at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital. Subsequent, and for more than 18 years, Stephanie was a Legal Assistant at two prominent Long Island law firms, where she gained a tremendous amount of experience in various types of law. Prior, Stephanie worked in Manhattan as a Legal Secretary for one of the largest New York law firms. Stephanie was an extremely active member of the Middle Country PTA and PTSA, and held numerous board positions and organized a multitude of events and fundraisers. She is a recipient of the NYS PTA Honorary Life Membership (Jenkins), the NYS PTA Distinguished Service and the NYS PTA Diamond Awards. In July 2020, Stephanie accepted the appointment of vice president of the Selden Civic Association. Stephanie is very proud to be part of the Middle Country family and community.
2024-2025 Board of Education Regular Meeting Dates
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Meetings are scheduled for Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted, at the Dr. Karen J. Lessler District Conference Center at Centereach High School, 14 43rd Street, Centereach, NY 11720.
July 29, 2024 - Monday - 5:00 p.m.
August 28, 2024 - 5:00 p.m.
September 18, 2024
October 16, 2024
October 30, 2024
November 20, 2024
December 18, 2024
January 08, 2025
January 22, 2025
February 05, 2025
February 26, 2025
March 12, 2025
March 26, 2025
April 23, 2025 - Budget Adoption/BOE Meeting
May 07, 2025 - Public Budget Hearing/BOE Meeting 6:30 p.m.
May 20, 2025 - Tuesday - Budget Vote/Election/Meeting 9:00 p.m.
May 21, 2025 - 5:00 p.m.
June 11, 2025
July 08, 2025 - Tuesday - 5:00 p.m. Re-Org
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BoardDocs
Middle Country uses the BoardDocs platform to post our meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and for providing a searchable database for our policies.
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Livestream and Archived Meetings
Middle Country livestreams all Board of Education meetings to YouTube. We maintain an archive of all past livestreamed meetings on YouTube, as well.
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Special Presentations 2023-2024
Presentations that were presented to the Board of Education at their regularly scheduled meetings.
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District and Community Advocacy & Important Information Regarding District Financial Challenges
Please join us as we advocate for fair and adequate funding for our students’ educational experience at Middle Country.