The close of the Jericho school year, a time usually marked by summer dreams, youthful optimism and syrupy reminiscence, was tarnished for some students and teachers when they learned that popular high school teacher Robert Hoffman was suspended by the school district.

Educators and their pupils formed a united front at a June 24 board of education meeting, showing up in symbolic black garb and challenging the suspension's merits. However, the board refused to reveal its justification for the suspension. In response to the Tribune's inquiry, a district spokesperson said that it is policy not to comment on personnel decisions.

While the suspension has been confirmed by multiple sources, no one on either side of the issue has returned the Tribune's request for interviews.

The district has a history of being reticent when it comes to personnel moves. The administration was tight-lipped last summer after the dismissal of Cantiague Elementary School Principal Marc Horowitz. Though many parents favored his removal, they still wanted to publicly reveal the specific actions that prompted his ouster, with limited success.

Jericho seems to reserve its in-house conflicts for end-of-the-year board meetings. In May 1998 two school board members announced their surprise resignation at a board meeting.

Those who protested may not have gotten the explanation they sought, but they did get their point across. Several teachers who were to receive retirement awards at the meeting coldly refused when their names were called.

At its Tuesday, July 6 meeting, the Town of Oyster Bay Board unanimously resolved to allow a 13-room expansion of the Best Western Woodbury Inn hotel. The decision went unopposed by local civic people, who view the hotel as a good neighbor.

The applicant seeking expansion, Woodbury Hotel Associates, LLC has received permission to reduce the size of its 16,300-square-foot conference area, making space for the 13 additional rooms.

The only concern surrounding the application involved expanding the possibilities for hotel ingress and egress. The town did not lift its traffic covenant prohibiting drivers exiting the hotel to turn left onto Jericho Turnpike.

¬ Brad Barth