At its Jan. 23 meeting, the Board of Education and administration honored former Board President Barry M. Dennis by naming their newly renovated conference room in his honor. Dennis, who passed in July 2017, had served on the board of education since 1993.
Friends and family members gathered at the dedication ceremony to honor Mr. Dennis’ principles and integrity, both in the community and in the schools. Remembered as a “lover of the arts,” the ceremony opened with a student string ensemble and featured a performance from exceptional student pianist, Deniz Yuruk. In addition, the entrance to the room was decorated with artwork from each of the grade levels.
Superintendent Christine Finn and each of the board members shared their memories of Mr. Dennis, and former superintendents Dave Flatley and Michael Mahoney sent messages to commemorate the event.
Councilwoman Viviana Russell and Nassau County Legislator Laura Schaefer were in attendance to speak of their personal experiences with Mr. Dennis, who was a lawyer. They each presented a citation to Mr. Dennis’ life partner Sharon Kelly. Dennis’ brother, Bruce, was also at the ceremony.
Each of the board members assisted in the unveiling of the plaque for the newly renovated conference room, commemorating it as the Barry M. Dennis Memorial Conference Room.