Studying the Schools: Legislator Visits Hommocks and Murray

by Paula Eisenberg

(September 19, 2002) As part of "Legislators Back to School Week," Assemblyman Ronald Tocci toured the Hommocks Middle School and Murray Avenue School Thursday morning with School Board President Bob Martin. State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer will visit the schools next week. The purpose of the tours, according to Board public relations officer Joan Rosen, is to make sure local legislators understand the current needs of Mamaroneck public schools and the importance of state building aid.

Hommocks Principal Seth Weitzman showed Mr. Tocci areas of the middle school funded by the Hommocks bond, including the new library, classrooms in the new wing, and the new auditorium, which is still under construction.

Mamaroneck School Board President Bob Martin and Assemblyman Ron Tocci at Murray Avenue School

Over at Murray, Mr. Tocci met with children in Ethan Rival's fifth grade class, where he gave a mini-civics lesson about the workings of the New York State Assembly, and the children eagerly asked him wide-ranging questions about government, the military and even U.S. flag etiquette. Some of the questions revealed the students' obvious worries stemming from the September 11 terrorist attacks, but one boy brought laughs from the adults with his question: "Where do the taxes go?" Murray Avenue Principal Dr. Elizabeth Dreier told Mr. Tocci the fifth grade children will be studying the U.S. Constitution this year, making his visit especially apropos.

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