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HERALD pOsT
Also serving Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Plainedge
VOL. 74 NO. 21
Meet your school board candidates
Obituary: Dr. Edward Mohr
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MAY 14 - 20, 2025
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Proposition to extend busing on ballot in ASD By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Courtesy/Massapequa School District
The art students whose work was displayed by the New York State School Boards Association.
Massapequa BOE applauds student artists and musicians By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
Students in the Massapequa school district’s visual and performing arts programs were honored by the Massapequa Board of Education at its April 24 meeting District Director of Fine and Performing Arts Vincent Green introduced the honorees and praised their contributions to the arts at the meeting. “One of my goals is to make sure the world knows about the great artists we are growing here in Massapequa,” Green said. “Every time one of you goes out and does something special, it’s a tribute to everything we do as staff and students. Thank you for being our ambassadors in the arts world.” Green presented certificates of recognition to students whose work was featured in the New York State School Boards Association virtual arts display: Maria Gumienak, Taylor Ewen, Adam Chan, Aaron Nunez, Tahlia Sanchez, Dominic Cronin, Summer Cohen, Debra Calamia, Sophia Moehring,
Alex Miller and Sophia Mignone. Certificates were also awarded to students who created artwork for the Region 9 Kindred Spirits Art Show: Connor Buch, Madison Anselmin, Elizabeth Carroll and Grace Weidenbach. Of those, only Connor was there in person to accept his certificate. Luis Moreno, who was selected as one of the top young artists by the Heckscher Museum, was also acknowledged but unable to attend. In addition, the board honored its All-State music students: Austin Benedict, Tyler Benedict, Stephanie Guida, Giovanna Pizza, Emily Ogurick, Isabella Corigliano and Chloe Legate. In other news: • The board unanimously adopted the 2025–2026 school budget totaling $243,245,381 after a brief presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Ryan Ruf,. Ruf noted the proposed tax levy increase of 2.90 percent remains below the state cap of 3.09 percent, translating to a projected $285 annual increase for the average homeowner. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
When Angela Florie’s 13-year-old son, Alec, decided to attend Chaminade High School in Mineola after graduating from Bridges Academy in West Islip this June, the Amityville resident enrolled him and submitted the required transportation paperwork to the Amityville Union Free School District on time. But when Florie followed up about a month later, she was told that the district would no longer provide bus service to Chaminade starting in September. The reason: The school is approximately two miles beyond the 15-mile maximum busing limit allowed under New York state law. Previously, the district had been able to transport students to Chaminade because at least one “anchor” student lived within the 15-mile radius. Under the law, other students outside that range were permitted to meet at a central location to ride the same bus. However, that student graduated several years ago, and the district continued to provide the service — a violation of state regulations, according to officials. To comply with the law, the district would need voter approval to extend the maximum mileage limit, officials said. That’s exactly what Florie and other local parents are asking their neighbors to support. Proposition 2 on next week’s school budget and trustee election ballot seeks voter approval to increase the mileage limit from 15 to 17 miles. If approved, the district could resume busing for Alec and approximately other Amityville students who attend private
schools like Chaminade. Parents advocating for the measure launched a website, yesto17miles.com, to explain the issue and urge voters to approve Prop. # 2. Also supporting the measure is Todd Brice, an Amityville High School graduate who has two boys going to Chaminade. Brice believes the decision by district officials to cut the service was driven more by the district’s goal to reduce a large budget gap than to come into compliance with the law. With the district facing a significant budget gap, eliminating private school busing would save the district approximately $400,000, plus an additional $75,000 in anticipated increases in charges from the bus company for the coming year, said Brice. “Year after year, I have paid school district taxes without using the schools at all,” said Brice pointing out that the busing is the only service the district provides him and his family. “There are approximately 700 kids in Amityville who go to private school, which saves the district millions of dollars every year, yet they want to pull the rug out from under us and take away the one service they do provide— the busing.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert rejected that saying the focus in leaving the issue to voters was to bring the district in full compliance with the law. “This budget item ensures transparency and full compliance with state law,” she said. “The decision to extend transportation services beyond the statutory 15-mile limit rests with the voters of the Amityville community.”