________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Vol. 27 No. 14
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APRIl 3 - 9, 2025
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Sewanhaka and Bellmore will continue to play students’ safety during games against Bellmore-Merrick. When the Herald requested Sewanhaka school district additional details of Sewanhastudents will continue to play ka’s plans with Bellmore-Mersports against teams in the Bell- rick, both districts declined to more-Merrick Central High comment further. “We are pleased with the School District, Superintendent Regina Agrusa said during the Sewanhaka Central High School District’s decision Sewanhaka Board to continue competof Education meeting against our athing on March 25. letic teams.” BellT h e d i s t r i c t ’s more-Merrick decision came after Superintendent parents expressed Michael Harrington ongoing concer ns said in a statement. of alle ged racist “We look forward to behaviors by Bellcompetitive games more-Merrick stuVAlERy with all schools on dents targeted at our schedule and Black Elmont stu- AIfuoBhokAN will continue to fosdents. A town hall coach, ter an environment meeting was held at LI Knights Volley Ball that promotes Elmont Memorial Club s p o r t s m a n s h i p, High School on Feb. mutual respect and 26 requesting the alleged offending school district a shared love of the game.” Many parents were unsatisbe removed from the game fied with the response, and felt schedule. According to Agrusa, a plan their concerns were dismissed is being implemented across because of the district’s hasty both the Sewanhaka and Bell- decision to continue competing more-Merrick school districts to against Bellmore-Merrick. “While I recognize that not handle any future racially all people may be in favor,” charged incidents. Parents then pressed Agrusa Agrusa said, “I do believe that and the board for more details this decision is in the best interon the plan to help ensure the Continued on page 4
By RENEE DeloRENZo
rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Herald file photo
a March 20 executive order by president trump cut the u.S. department of education staff in half, which parents say will make it harder for students to receive equal access to education.
Dept. of Ed. cuts ordered by Trump, parents fear fallout By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Elmont and Franklin Square parents are growing more concerned over the looming dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. They worry that President Trump’s March 20 executive order to close the department indicates that equal access to education will collapse on Long Island. A previous order, on March 11, reduced the department’s workforce by nearly 50 percent. A Department of Education news release said that it would continue to enforce programs and initiatives in its jurisdiction, but acknowledged that all divisions of the department were impacted by the staff cuts, and would require “significant reorganization.” Katherine Dalton, of Elmont, who teaches
English Language Arts and English as a New Language at Atlas High School in Long Island City, said that the reduction in funding and staff would lead to systemic inequality across Long Island. “I think a cut to education this large is a disaster,” Dalton said. “I’m bracing for a tough year.” Federal funding, she pointed out, supports programs that serve high-needs groups such as special-education students. Linda McMahon, the new secretary of education, released a statement on March 20, writing, “Taxpayers will no longer be burdened with tens of billions of dollars of waste on progressive social experiments and obsolete programs.” Programs such as the Office of Special Continued on page 12
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lease protect our children. That’s all we ask.