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Vol. 90 No. 38
SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2025
1301441
Page 13 $1.00
Freeport parents allege lack of transparency in the dark. “We have no information on what it is, whether there was The Freeport School District any validity to the investigais facing mounting criticism tion, but we’re paying her,” from parents and other commu- Saunders explained, noting nity members over a series of that Davis’s contract is also administrative changes, a lack shrouded in uncertainty. The Board of Education’s of transparency and growing decision, at a meetconcerns about ing on Aug. 20, to staff and student eliminate assistant welfare. superintendent Kenneth Saunpositions and ders, a longtime replace them with Freeport parent “executive direcand education advotor” roles — with cate, voiced the no explanation — frustrations and has further fueled anxieties shared by confusion. many in the com“There’s no jusmunity as the distification or explatrict navigates a nation for why period of uncer- KENNETH these things are tainty. SAuNDERS being done,” SaunSaunders, whose Freeport parent ders said. “There’s daughter, Lourdes no information in Saunders-Blake, was valedictorian of Freeport terms of what financial impact High School’s class of 2025, it has.” Issues of transparency described a district in disarray since the departure of Superin- extend beyond administrative tendent Kishore Kuncham in reshuffling. A number of parents recounted to the Herald August of 2024. The subsequent hiring and how questions submitted by suspension of Superintendent community members at board Fia Davis, with little explana- meetings have gone unantion for the administration’s swered, and how meetings have actions, has left many parents Continued on page 8
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
Deliah Roberts/Herald
Village remembers 2001’s loss and sacrifice Alma Rocha, Freeport resident and former Columbia School Principal, has organized the village’s annual 9/11 ceremony for 21 years. Flanked by stalwarts of the Freeport Fire Department she opened this year’s ceremony with a speech at the Firefighter Richard T. Muldowney Jr. Memorial Lighthouse located at the traffic circle where South Bayview Avenue meets Ray Street and Branch Avenue. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Eco Rotaract workshop builds homes for bees at Brookside By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The Environmental Rotaract Club of Nassau County is leading grassroots projects in Freeport — aimed at revitalizing ecosystems and spurring the community to help take better care of the environment. Guided by leaders Melissa Griffin and Christopher McBride, club members are finding creative ways to balance habitat restoration with public awareness. The club, which is active on Long Island, hosted a bee house initiative on Sept. 13 at Brookside Preserve, inviting community members to con-
struct small shelters for pollinators using simple, everyday materials. The event, held in front of the 22-acre preserve, opposite 38 Terrace Ave., combined handson environmental cleanup with interactive education. The 12 visitors participated in a preserve cleanup, and joined workshops demonstrating how to create bee houses from recycled cans and natural materials. “A tin can, straws, natural component, reed straws, you put straws in the can,” McBride explained. “You put some paper around the straws in the can to hold it in there. Then you put a string around the can, and you hang the Continued on page 7
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here’s no justification or explanation for why these things are being done.