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Vol. 33 No. 13
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MAR. 26 - APR. 1, 2026
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Scout troop’s pasta dinner fundraiser nets $2,500 By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
Christine Rivera/Herald
Scouting America Troop 240 in West Hempstead annual pasta dinner at the American Legion Cathedral Post 1087 on March 15, drew more than 130 attendees.
Members of Scouting America Troop 240 in West Hempstead hosted its annual pasta dinner at the American Legion Cathedral Post 1087, at 233 Woodlawn Road, on March 15, drawing more than 130 participants and raising $2,500. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Troop 240 Scoutmaster Nick Hoh said. “The Scouts are our waiters, and they serve all the food. “In Scouting, we’re teaching responsibility, accountability and leadership,” he continued. “So, learning tasks, like how to do a job, how to plan an event from the beginning stages, that’s ConTinued on PAge 20
School boards discuss finances at budget meetings By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
The Malver ne and West Hempstead school district boards of education held their initial budget meetings for the 2026-27 school year on March 3 and 10, respectively. All numbers reported for both schools are pending, because the state budget and with it the amount of state aid that will be available to the districts, have yet to be finalized.
Malverne “We will maintain robust athletic and arts programs, and this is also fiscally responsible
for our community,” Malverne school board President Josephine Bottitta said of the district’s preliminary $75.7 million spending plan. “It maintains the tax levy at the tax cap, and it reflects our priority of maintaining a safe and appropriate learning environment within our schools.” The district plans to increase spending by 2.36 percent or about $1.75 million next year but is expecting to receive about 0.4 percent less in total state aid, including the minimum 1 percent increase in foundation aid. District officials project a budget gap of roughly $610,000
in 2026-27. Transportation services districtwide are expected to increase by 16 percent, or about $840,000, to $6.1 million. Insurance and employee benefits expenditures are projected to rise by about 8 percent, or $730,000, to $9.8 million. The predicted foundation aid, about $140,000, would cover less than 10 percent of the increase in total mandatory expenditures. Board trustees also discussed the district’s decreasing enrollment and the issue of charter schools, which, they said, are drawing more students away from public schools and adversely affecting state aid.
“Charter schools put the burden on the public schools to pay the tuition for the charter school,” Trustee Jeanne D’Esposito said. “If a child moves to a charter school, we pay $25,000. If charter schools are considered public, the state should pay for them like they are public schools. [Charter schools] don’t have the same
regulatory oversight.” The district’s enrollment is projected to drop from 627 students to 600 in 2026-27. “Enrollment is what dictates state aid,” D’Esposito said.
West Hempstead The West Hempstead district’s preliminary spending ConTinued on PAge 12