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Vol. 90 No. 8
FEBRUARY 20 - 26, 2025
THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCT ION
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Department of Education, DEI in limbo student achievement and equal access to education for all. There is widespread misundermrafiq@liherald.com standing that the department President Trump is consid- manages the country’s schools ering an executive order that and dictates their curriculum. would shut down the U.S. In reality, this responsibility falls to state governDepartment of Eduments and local cation — which school districts. would deliver on a While the federal promise he made on a g e n cy d o e s n o t the campaign trail. directly control K-12 In just his first education, it profew weeks in office, vides significant Trump has implefinancial support to mented swee ping school districts with changes — from funding programs attempting to freezaimed at improving ing federal g rant education, particufunding to banning larly in underserved diversity, equity and communities. The inclusion programs. de par tment overS h u t t i n g d ow n GABRIElA sees student loan CASTIllo the Department of programs and Education — which former Board of a d m i n i s t e r s Pe l l would take an act of Education trustee Grants, which help Congress — would low-income students have a major effect on school districts across Long attend college. It also funds initiatives that Island, which rely on federal funding for many programs support students with disabilities and those from economicalthey offer. ly disadvantaged backgrounds. As well, it enforces civil rights What does the Department of laws aimed at preventing disEducation do? Created in 1979 by President crimination based on race or Jimmy Car ter, the de par t- sex in schools that receive fedment’s mission is to promote Continued on page 4
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ & MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
W
Stu Goldman/Herald
Freeport police officer Stephen Sheehan, with Bayview avenue School students destin dauban and dambell Javier, holds a handmade Valentine’s day card, celebrating the bond between students and their adopt-a-cops.
Bayview hosts 29th annual Adopt-a-Cop luncheon By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Bayview Avenue School of Arts and Sciences in Freeport continued a longstanding, heartfelt Valentine’s Day tradition, hosting officers from the Freeport Police Department for its Adopt-a-Cop luncheon. The school held its 29th annual Adopt-aCop Valentine’s luncheon on Feb. 14, celebrating the strong bond between its fourth grade students and the officers. Cindy Misrock, the school’s social worker who founded the program in 1996, said she
envisioned an opportunity to build positive relationships between law enforcement and the community’s youth. “I love that 29 years ago, my Adopt-a-Cop idea was embraced and supported by, at the time, Principal Rodney Williams and Chief Michael Woodward,” Misrock said during the event. She reflected on how the program has evolved, with police officers becoming mentors and extended members of the Bayview family. “The children would write letters to older Continued on page 10
e’re talking
about catastrophic impacts and consequences of this.