Coalition for Glen Cove

Glen Cove mayoral candidate Jed Morey speaks at Coalition for Glen Cove meeting

Jed Morey, Republican candidate for Mayor of Glen Cove, spoke about education and programs for youth in Glen Cove at the October 16^th meeting of the Coalition for Glen Cove. He was accompanied by Republican candidates for City Council.

Mr. Morey said that he was born in Canada, went to Montessori preschool in Canada and then returned to Long Island and attended Friends Academy from second grade until his graduation thirteen years ago. After seeing an advertisement for Big Brothers and Big Sisters while he was a junior in college, he volunteered to mentor an eight-year old who had just lost his father and was having difficulties in school. The young man graduated with honors, went to Hamilton College on a swimming scholarship, and still stays with the Morey family for two weeks each summer.

Marvin Isaacson pointed out that the schools do need more mentors. He was one of six mentors who started four months ago but he is the only mentor still in contact with his student. Mentors are hard to find and hard to sustain.

Mr. Morey replied that Big Brothers does well in recruiting high school and college students as mentors. He will try to encourage Big Brothers and Big Sisters to seek outside funding to come to Glen Cove to help the Youth Board to attract and screen mentors.

Council candidate Tom Manzione said he was amazed by the high school kickline, the band, and the school plays and would like to find a way for them to perform at more locations outside of Glen Cove so others could see what we have. Mr. Morey said that Glen Cove has bright students and excellent teachers and administrators. The value of a Glen Cove public school education needs to be stressed by the city administration. City Hall should not try to manage the school district, but should realize that the schools are one of the city’s major assets, and should be a cheerleader for the schools.

Mr. Morey said, “When I talked with Superintendent of Schools Mary Ellen Freeley I found her to be one of the most forthright, competent, and dedicated people I have ever met. I admire her determination to see that every student succeeds and her reluctance to use poverty or difficulty with English as excuses. I agree with Dr. Freeley that the arts are important to education, and I believe –partly because my wife is a musician–that music makes a broader person. I would love to see us create a local endowment for the arts. If you don’t have the money for programs, go find the money. Don’t raise taxes; go for private and foundation grants. City Hall, the schools, and the community should brainstorm about ways to work together and then the schools should ask the city for the help they need.”

Helen Kotzky pointed out that on October 22^nd at 7 PM there will be a community forum at the high school to discuss directions that the district might take. She hoped that the candidates for mayor and city council will attend.

In reply to a question from Richard Tortorici and another from Gloria Jackel, Mr. Morey said that after-school programs should be increased. We need a central place for youth entertainment that might be part of the parks system and is open in the afternoon and evening and on weekends. We could use one side of Village Square for a community center if buildings on the other side could be raised to two or three stories to accommodate the current commercial tenants. The library might also be a good place but is small and is not really a community center.

Madeline McCord suggested that if school buildings were open after school, evenings, and weekends, their gyms and other facilities could be used by students for recreation. Currently groups who use the schools after hours are discouraged because they have to pay the cost for custodians and insurance. This cost might be paid by the city.

Jed Morey said that two of the greatest assets of this city are Carol Sucharski and Juan Castro of the Glen Cove Youth Board, both of whom are dynamos. Juan has a lot of ideas and has done some amazing things. Carol is beloved by the children. They are a great combination.

He concluded by saying “Perhaps the city could support evening and weekend English classes for parents who cannot now help their children with their homework lessons because they do not speak the language in which those lessons are taught. This is one of the hidden opportunities that people are talking about. Of course, many parents are working two jobs and have very little extra time.”