SCHOOL BUDGET RESULTS _______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD
xxx school district
√ PASSED 0 VOTES
Also serving Lakeview
For more school election results information, go to liherald.com/xxx
Students receive scholar awards
West Hempstead mock trial wins
Malverne top grads honored
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Vol. 33 No. 21
MAY 21 - 27, 2026
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SCHOOL BUDGET RESULTS
Malverne, X FAILED W. Hempstead budgets pass xxx school district
0 VOTES
For more school election results information, go to liherald.com/xxx
By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald
LIRR service was suspended from Saturday morning to Monday night.
LIRR strike ends after a three-day work stoppage By BRIAN KACHARABA & NoAH PERETZ of the Herald
The three-day Long Island Railroad strike ended late Monday after five unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a tentative agreement following seve r a l d ay s o f n e g o t i at i o n s, o f f i c i a l s announced at an evening news conference. U n i o n a n d M TA r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s announced the deal after negotiations resumed in the afternoon and continued into the night, ending a work stoppage that had halted service and caused widespread travel disruptions across Long Island and in New York City. “We have good news tonight,” Kevin Sexton, vice president of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the spokesman for the Long Island Railroad Bargaining Coalition, said. “We’re pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement.” Sexton said that details of the agreement would not be released immediately, citing the need for member review ahead of ratification votes. However, public radio station WYNC reported that the four-year deal includes retroactive pay and expires in July 2027. “Due to the nature of the negotiations, we cannot discuss the specifics,” he said. “What I can say is we are looking forward to our members getting back to work and doing what they do best, which is serving the ContInued on page 6
The Malver ne and West Hempstead school districts’ voters approved each of their budgets for the 2026-27 school years o n T u e s d a y. M a l v e r n e ’ s approved budget is about $75.1 million, and West Hempstead’s is about $83 million. The approved budgets carry a tax levy increase of 2.29% and 2.22%, respectively. Malverne’s was just over $50.9 million, while West Hempstead’s was 52.9 million. Both tax levies are at or under 2.29%, the allowable amount dictated by the New York State tax cap formula. In Malverne, Sandy Ronquillo ran unopposed for the seat left by Laura Bellamy-Avvinti, who left the Board of Education after eight years. Ronquillo received 372 ‘yes’ votes. In West Hempstead, George Damanis ran unopposed for the seat left by David Lazar, and Joseph Magaraci ran unopposed for re-election. Damanis received 1139 votes, and Magaraci was re-elected with 1231 votes. The Malverne budget passed by a vote of 329 to 132, according to unofficial results released by
the district. The spending plan represents a $1.3 million, or 1.54 percent, increase over the current year’s budget. The West Hempstead budget passed by a vote of 1115 to 416 according to unofficial results released by the district. The spending plan represents a $2.9 million, or $3.72 percent, increase over the current year’s budget. The West Hempstead library budget passed by a vote of 1,138 to 375. Officials from both districts said the spending increases were due to rising costs of e m p l oye e b e n e f i t s, h e a l t h insurance and transportation costs. According to a district presentation transportation cost in West Hempstead are expected to rise by 14 percent, from about $10 million to about $11.8 million, as has been the trend for the past ten years. For Malverne, state aid is expected to decrease by about 0.4 percent, while Foundation Aid is projected to increase by $140 thousand. For West Hempstead, state aid is expected to increase by about 12 percent, while Foundation Aid is projected to increase by $480 thousand, or 5 percent.