_______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD Also serving Lakeview
Teachers face-off in Ram battle
State publishes bullying report
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Vol. 33 No. 11
MARCH 12 - 18, 2026
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Diamond Charter School approved educationally, fiscally and legally sound,” Kathryn Connell-Espinosa, the institute’s Of the Herald executive director, said in a Diamond Charter School has statement to the Herald. “The been approved by the SUNY school also presented feasible Charter Schools Institute to plans which would allow the open in West Hempstead for the school to move back within the 2026-27 school year. Hempstead Union Free School In 2024, DCS District by January requested approval 1, 2028.” to open in Hemp“While we are stead. Despite disappointed that strong opposition t h e ap p rova l fo r from Hempstead temporary relocaresidents and neightion was granted for boring communi18 months rather ties, the proposal than the two years was approved by the we initially requestinstitute, for a Seped, Diamond Chartember 2026 openter School remains ing. In December, fully committed to DCS submitted a serving the Village request to revise its of Hempstead and a p p l i c a t i o n a n d DANIEl REHMAN the sur rounding temporarily operate Superintendent, communities,” in West Hempstead West Hempstead DCS’s exter nal for up to two years school district affairs director, Terwhile completing rence McLean, construction of a wrote to the Herald permanent location. in an email. “We will continue On March 3, the institute working closely with our compublished a memorandum munity partners to ensure a detailing its approval for DCS smooth transition and to supto operate in West Hempstead, port families throughout this for a maximum of 18 months. process. Our priority remains “The Institute reviewed the providing a strong educational facility documents for the tem- option for students and welporary location and found them Continued on page 19
By MADISoN GUSlER & lUKE FENEEY
Deliah Roberts/Herald
The Girl Scouts were in charge for the day Domenica Zacco, with Cadette Troop 2562 took on the role of Malverne trustee Carl Prizzi, who sits behind her, for Girl Scout Government Day on Saturday. From Cadette Troop 2026, Elany Cales, left, played the role of Mayor Tim Sullivan and Lucy Sheridan took on the part of trustee Megan O’Rourke-Schutta. Story, more photos, Page 9.
Funds earmarked for Lakeview library’s third floor renovations By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
The Lakeview Public Library, located at 1120 Woodfield Rd., will expand the programming and services that it offers to the community after Rep. Laura Gillen secured $850,000 in federal funding to renovate the building’s third floor. The financial support is part of $13 million in Community Project Funding Gillen has earmarked for Nassau County to invest in community infrastructure, enhance public safety, support local law enforcement and first responders, and improve the quality of life for residents. “Our public libraries do so much more than lend books — they provide educational resources, workforce development support, technology access and safe gathering spaces for residents of
all ages,” Gillen, who represents the fourth congressional district, said in a Feb. 26 release. “This $850,000 investment will help ensure that the Lakeview Public Library continues to meet the evolving needs of our community,” Gillen added. “I was proud to secure this federal funding and look forward to seeing the transformation come to life.” Lisa Ortiz, president of the library’s board of trustees, said the building’s third floor would be the final floor to be renovated. “This is a project I have been working on, along with the rest of the board members, for some time,” she said. The third-floor renovations will include a flexible, multi-purpose auditorium, podcasting and multimedia center, a makerspace/STEAM lab, quiet study and group meeting areas and a dedicated flight simulator station to inspire learning Continued on page 20
Q
uite simply, any period of ‘incubation’ in West Hempstead is disappointing.