_____________ ROCKVILLE CENTRE ____________
HERALD SIBSPlace gala nets $300,000
Halloween fun at the Rec Center
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Vol. 35 No. 45
oCToBER 31 - NoVEMBER 6, 2024
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Teacher nears settlement with diocese “secular in nature and not ministerial.” Califano was fired on Dec. Michael Califano, a former 27, 2023, after 18 months at the third-grade teacher at Maria school, and he claimed that the Regina Catholic School in Sea- termination resulted from an anonymous email ford, has reached a that was shared “settlement in prinwith diocesan officiple” with the cials last NovemRo m a n C a t h o l i c ber, containing picDiocese of Rocktures of Califano ville Centre, kissing his boyaccording to a friend. He maincourt document tained that he had filed on Oct. 14. kept his activity on The document, a social media priletter addressed to vate, and that he Magistrate Judge had never openly James M. Wicks, of discussed sexuality U.S. District Court with his class. for the Eastern DisCalifano claimed trict of New York, that after a meeting states that the parwith the school’s ties “have reached JoINT STATEMENT pastor and reprea settlement in FRoM THE DIoCESE, sentatives of the principle and are in THE SCHool d i o c e s e, h e w a s the process of finalinfor med that he izing the terms of a AND CAlIFANo’S had violated a settlement agree- ATToRNEyS school handbook ment.” policy about adherCalifano, 27, who openly identifies as gay, said ing to Catholic values. Sean Dolan, who was the diothat the diocese was aware of his sexuality when he was cese’s communications director hired as a math and English at the time, said, “For privacy teacher — a position that Wicks reasons, we do not comment described in a memorandum publicly on personnel matters, order last September as being Continued on page 9
By DANIEl oFFNER
doffner@liherald.com
M
Tim Baker/Herald photos
South Side celebrates Homecoming South Side cheerleaders display their school spirit during the annual Homecoming parade on Saturday, as they march past the school towards the football field for the big game. South Side High School Mascot Sammy Cyclone joins local families who came out to enjoy the Homecoming parade on Saturday afternoon. Story, more photos, Page 3.
ichael Califano, Maria Regina School and the Diocese of Rockville Centre have agreed to an amicable resolution.