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Veterans news column
Local business news column Page 7 VOL. 73, NO. 43
Page 13 OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 5
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Lawmakers fight for fair share of federal $$ By CAROLYN JAMES
Photo Credit/Herald
Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association, speaks on a proposed law to give Long Island autonomy in vying for federal infrastructure dollars. He is flanked by elected officials from Nassau and Suffolk County and labor leaders who support the measure.
cjames@liherald.com With partisan politics heating up just two weeks before Election Day, Long Island politicians gathered in a bipartisan effort to advocate for increased federal funding for road and infrastructure projects in Nassau and Suffolk counties. “We are the most populated counties in the state and government and labor is going to fight hard for its fair share,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We have a strong voice, projects that have to get done and the talent of workers CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Massapequa School Board opposes state regionalization mandate By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent The Massapequa Board of Education has joined the opposition to a statemandated regionalization plan for all Nassau County school districts. In a letter co-signed by Superintendent of Schools William Brennan and Massapequa Federation of Teachers President Malcolm Gilbert, the board said the plan could undermine local control over educational decisions and threaten district autonomy. It warns that this could lead to reduced opportunities for teachers and could potentially mean the consolidation of school districts. The letter requests comprehensive stakeholder engagement before proceeding with the plan. The State Education Department reg-
ulation mandates that all 56 Nassau County school districts work with the Nassau BOCES Superintendent to create a county-wide plan aimed at addressing educational disparities, fiscal constraints, and operational inefficiencies. The move is intended to enhance student opportunities and operational efficiencies through shared resources. Under the new regulation, the Nassau BOCES Superintendent will collect relevant data from all districts and monitor each district’s plan implementation through site visits and performance reviews. Notably, the superintendent has the authority to compel any district to modify its portion of the regionalization plan to achieve the desired outcomes. At the Massapequa board meeting on
October 24, President Kerry Wachter pointed out that the regulations do not mention boards of education, even though they are the only ones authorized to oversee the sharing of services and the spending of taxpayer funds. She expressed concern that the new state regulation could force districts like Massapequa to divert local resources to support students from other areas, ultimately jeopardizing opportunities for local students. “This sets the stage for the consolidation of all Nassau districts,” she said. “It’s very scary, but I’m hopeful we can unite and push back.” The Board has encouraged PTAs and other local groups to voice their concerns to the State Education Department. Similar letters of opposition have been sent by school boards in Wantagh, Locust Valley, Cold Spring Harbor,
Island Trees, and other Nassau districts. School districts cannot opt out of discussions or actions required by the regionalization plans. The regulation does not apply to the school districts of New York City, Buffalo, Syracuse, Yonkers, and Rochester. The regionalization plan was adopted as an emergency rule and took effect immediately. But there is a 60-day comment period before the mandate is finalized in January. The Massapequa Board encourages local groups and individuals to send their objections to the State Education Department at 89 Washington Avenue, Room 115 EB, Albany, NY 12234, or via email at REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov.