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VOL. 102 NO. 7
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Districts track threats to federal school funding By BRIAN NORMAN bnorman@liherald.com
Herald file photo
Local school officials are keeping tabs on the goings-on in Washington, as President Trump vows to do away with the U.S. Department of Education. Above, Hewlett High School.
As President Trump aims to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, local educators and school officials are grappling with what the move could mean for funding, resources and the future of public education in their communities. One of Trump’s longstanding campaign promises is to shutter the department. To do so, however, he would need an act of Congress, to undo what Congress created more than 45 years ago. The Department of Education was established in 1979, during President Jimmy Carter’s administration, as a cabinet-level agency. Its mission was to promote student achievement and equal access to education. According to the department’s website, its elementary and secondary programs now serve more than 50 million students in some 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools. One of the main concerns among educators is the ConTinUED on PAgE 10
First-timeWoodmere author honors late dog in book By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The children’s literature community has welcomed its newest author, Aliza Brown, of Wo o d m e r e, a n d h e r b o o k “Rocky’s Perfect Day.” Born and raised in Cedarhurst, Brown has three kids, who inspired her passion for writing, and many pets. Her childhood dog, Rocky, sparked the book idea. “Rocky is a King Charles cavalier and was one of my many dogs, and he actually lived into some of my adulthood,” Brown said. “He inspired me in many ways, as
most of my pets have. He was a little bit extra-special.” Brown, 34, began working in the corporate world in 2015, selling intellectual property for nine years before transitioning into teaching last year. She now teaches remedial English at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for boys, in Woodmere. “I found it to be so fulfilling, teaching the boys and watching them learn and grow,” Brown said, “and this book has been in the works prior to starting there.” After she finished writing it, she encountered some difficulties as she tried to figure out
the illustrations, sizing and formatting, and how and where to publish it. She ended up selfpublishing through Amazon. “I’m happy to say it finally came to fruition on Jan. 31,” she said. “It was published as an e-book, and it was published as a paperback on Feb. 5.” Readers can order Brown’s book on Amazon, or find it at libraries in Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Island Park, Inwood, Lawrence, Lido Beach, Long Beach, Oceanside, Point Lookout and Woodmere — all, as it happens, in the 20th State Assembly District, which is represented by Aliza’s dad,
Assemblyman Ari Brown. She is currently working on a deal with Barnes & Noble, and hoping to get involved in book fairs and festivals. She wants to write more books, and currently has a second one in development. “I’m partly inspired by my pets, partly inspired by my children and their love for read-
ing,” Brown said. She volunteers at BRAT Rescue — short for the all-in-fun name Bitches Rescuing Animals Together — in Far Rockaway, where she adopted two of her dogs. “That’s part of the reason as to why I started writing as well,” Brown said, “and 10 perConTinUED on PAgE 10