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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
Mark Donnelly named LIBOR prez
Nancy Leftenant-Colon of Amityville dies, 104
Janine O’Connor of ASD promoted
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VOL. 130 NO. 6
FEBRUARY 5-11, 2025
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New middle school ban on backpacks faces backlash from parents and remain up and away throughout the school day,” A new school policy bar- the letter said. It noted that ring the use of backpacks be- students could access their tween classes at Edmund W. lockers during homeroom, Miles Middle School in Ami- before lunch, and before 9th tyville is drawing criticism period. In a statement to the public from some parents who say the change negatively impacts Hutcherson said the change their children’s academic ex- was made after “careful consideration” and is in line with perience. best practices for One parent of maintaining a safe an honor student, and secure learnwho wished to reing environment. main anonymous, However, anexpressed frustraother parent voiced tion over the rule. concern that the The parent said rule sets students their child now up for failure by has to visit their forcing them to go locker three times back and forth to a day to retrieve books and materi- ROSE HUTCHERSON their lockers, instead of allowing als for each class. Edmund W. Miles them to carry evIf this results in Principal erything they need tardiness in getfor the day. “It’s ting to class on making them late time, the parent receives repeated text mes- to class, and they’re being sages from teachers about punished for forgetting,” the parent said. their child’s lateness. Other parents said they “I don’t understand why this is happening here when also receive multiple text mesnone of the other schools are sages each day from teachers about their child’s tardiness doing it,” the parent said. In a letter sent January 14 due to the new policy. They to parents, Principal Rose also criticized the lack of inHutcherson outlined the new put from parents before the policy. “To maintain a produc- rule was im-plemented. The tive and focused learning en- only communication they revironment, backpacks, coats, ceived , they said, was the hats, earbuds, cellphones, and letter from Hutcherson anheadphones must be stored CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD
cbabirad@liherald.com
Photo Credit/Metro Creative Connection
A proposed state bill would give schools the option to opt out of NY’s zero-emmisions bus measure.
Bill would allow local school districts to opt-out of electric bus mandate By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Assemblymen Keith Brown and Michael Durso, both Republicans, are co-sponsoring a bill that would allow local school districts to opt out of a new state law mandating the transition to electric school buses. The lawmakers argue that the measure, which requires districts to replace diesel buses with zero-emission models, presents significant energy and cost-related challenges. At a news conference on January 28, Brown (12th AD) and Durso (9th AD) introduced the proposed bill that, if passed, would give school districts the option to apply for a waiver from the state’s commissioner of education, allowing them to bypass certain zero-emission bus requirements. Under current law, starting in 2027, school districts in New York will be required to purchase electric school buses to replace traditional diesel models. The
state offers transportation aid as partial reimbursement for bus purchases, but the new measure has raised concerns about its affordability. A group of Republican state senators sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, expressing concerns over the high costs of electric buses. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the average new electric school bus costs approximately $400,000, compared to about $130,000 for traditional diesel buses. However, in a statement to the press, Hochul defended the initiative, stating, “It is not enough to encourage New Yorkers to buy electric—we must build green infrastructure that will drive New Yorkers to choose cleaner and greener modes of transportation.” The push for electric school buses is part of New York’s broader environmental goal of reaching 850,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2025, with plans for all new passenger vehicles to be electric by 2035. Critics of the mandate argue that electric CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
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he safety and security of our students and staff are our top priority.