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Vol. 27 No. 37
New faces in North Bellmore
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Bellmore, we’re your local paper
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The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education resulting from a ‘shared ancestry’ complaint. Above, the entrance to the Brookside School, the district’s headquarters.
‘Shared ancestry’ investigation is open in Bellmore-Merrick schools By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
According to the U.S. Department of Education, there is an open investigation of a “shared ancestry” complaint in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District. It is one of two such investigations on Long Island, along with one in the Commack School District, in Suffolk County. Shared ancestry investigations focus on possible violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires federally funded institutions to protect students from discrimination based on race, color or national origin. The Education Department has said that includes people of Jewish faith, Muslims and other ethnic and religious groups with
shared ancestry. According to the department’s website, Ed.gov, the Bellmore-Merrick investigation was opened on Aug. 26, but there are no details about why it was initiated. Commack is being investigated because of a complaint about antisemitic and anti-Black graffiti at a district school. The website explains that civil rights laws “protect all students from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age.” The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights can investigate complaints that students were subjected to ethnic or ancestral slurs; harassed for how they look, dress or speak in ways linked to ethnicity or ancestry; or stereotyped based on ConTinUED on pAgE 4
There’s no place like Bellmore — but you don’t need us to tell you that. Whether you hail from north or south of Sunrise Highway, and pledge your allegiance to Mepham or Kennedy High School, Bellmore is a place worth being immensely proud of. Bellmore neighbors come together in times of need, because they want the best for not only themselves, but the people around them — their neighbors, their children and their friends. The Bellmore Herald is your community newspaper. There is no other publication or news outlet that knows this town, its people and the things they care about, more than us. We are there for you in the best of times and the worst of times — no matter what. This week’s Bellmore Herald is being mailed to every home, and includes a copy of our popular annual magazine, Living In Bellmore. It’s filled with great information you can use throughout the year and it features a look at what makes Bellmore such a great community. If you’re not a Bellmore Herald subscriber, we hope a look at this week’s paper will persuade
you that you should be. Each week in these pages — and on our website — we cover the big issues, and you’ll find the local news that you can’t find anywhere else. If you’re not currently receiving the Bellmore Herald by mail each week, please help keep quality local journalism alive in your community by signing up for a subscription online at LIHerald.com/subscribe, or call (516) 569-4000, ext. 7. Also please consider supporting the Herald with a small donation at LIHerald. com/donate. It can be a one-time, or a monthly contribution to help us continue to ensure that nothing but the best in hyperlocal community journalism comes straight to you. If you’re already a Bellmore Herald subscriber, thank you for your support. We hope you are pleased with our coverage. If you’re new to the Bellmore Herald, then you must know that our mission is to cover all the news of your neighborhood — from the schools to local sports, from houses of worship to philanthropic organizations. Enjoy the paper, and thanks for reading! Jordan Vallone, Senior Editor