UPDATE: District Official Now Says Food Incident Did Occur In Eastport South Manor Science Lab

UPDATE: FRIDAY 3:24 P.M.

There was indeed an incident involving food in a science lab at the Eastport South Manor Junior Senior High School although Ms. Weiss said on Friday that it involved the entire science department and not just one teacher.

"There was definitely an issue of food and it was handled as issues are always handled," Ms. Weiss said. "The principal met with all science staff because cross contamination of food cannot be allowed in the lab."

However, the food lab was not the only incident that occurred in recent weeks, according to Ms.Weiss. She would not expand on what the second incident involved, only that it was "a separate issue" from the food lab and that it has been addressed.

As far as Mr. Mayola's future with the school, Ms. Weiss said “he is not being denied tenure and is not being let go."

ORIGINAL STORY

Parents and students in the Eastport South Manor School District said they were outraged this week after news spread on Facebook of the firing of a beloved Eastport-South Manor High School science teacher for giving his students cookies in class—even though district officials this week said no cookie incident occurred and no one was getting fired.

Glenn Mayola started as a permanent substitute teacher in 2012 and has since then taken over teaching honors chemistry at the junior-senior high school. According to the parents and students on a Facebook Eastport South Manor community page, he violated the school’s no-food rule, which was implemented last year and prohibits students from eating in class, when he used cookies in the science lab.

Some of the parents claim that Mr. Mayola is facing termination, while others said he will not be granted tenure in February.

But Linda Weiss, the school’s assistant superintendent for personnel, noted on Monday that Facebook groups are notorious for spreading rumors, and said that no such incident occurred and that “no one has been let go [and] no one has been told that they are not getting tenure.”

Still, more than 60 parents are upset, with some claiming on Facebook that their children were told by Mr. Mayola himself that he was indeed being let go.

Mr. Mayola could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Thomas Tascarella, a former student at Eastport South Manor High School, said in an email on Tuesday that Mr. Mayola performed the cookie lab before Thanksgiving every year “with no problem.”

“Now, this year, the School Board was not so happy and is planning to fire him over it,” Mr. Tascarella said.

Cindy Catherine, whose daughter loves Mr. Mayola’s class, went as far as accusing the district administration of hiding the truth. “They lie,” Ms. Catherine said. “The game is always the same: Lie, pretend you know nothing, and wait until people shut up.”

An equally upset parent, Susan Riker, created a Facebook event called “Protest the Firing of Mr. Mayola,” encouraging parents to attend the district’s monthly Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. to demand that Mr. Mayola keep his job.

Board of Education President Karen Kesnig did not immediately return phone calls or emails seeking comment. Board member and former Board of Education President Kenneth Cooke said on Tuesday that he could not discuss personnel issues.

Kerri Meyer commented on Facebook that her son Damien loved Mr. Mayola’s class so much that he rearranged his entire 10th grade schedule to take Mr. Mayola’s honors chemistry class. She added, “When kids lose teachers mid-year, it severely affects them."

“We only know what we have heard from our kids, but no one has heard differently.” Ms. Meyer said.