_____________ ROCKVILLE CENTRE ____________ WORD ON THE STREET IS
HERALD
you’re paying too much on your street.
50 years of Twin Oaks Day Camp
Sign up today. It on ly tak Apply online at mptrg es seconds. .com/heraldnote or call 516.715.1266
Page 10 VOl. 36 NO. 7
FEB. 13 - 19, 2025
Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Grou p, LLC 483 Chestnut Street, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 Habl
$1.00
1281334
DEADLINE MARCH 3RD
amos Español
RVC school programs are seeing growth
Bringing the flavor to Rockville Centre Front Street Bakery owner Lisa Acerno, right, along with her daughter and son-in-law Jackie and Michael Hanley, served up their delicious cookies and treats at the annual Taste of Rockville Centre on Jan. 31. Story, more photos Page 3.
Gig ante emphasized the importance of the program, which offers nutritious meals, The Rockville Centre school homework assistance and recdistrict offers a variety of pro- reational activities for elementary school stu grams throughout dents in every elethe year to provide mentary building. support and activiShe noted that the ties for students, program also adults and families. allows students Program directors from the local midhad an opportunity dle and high to brag about the schools to earn volsuccess of prounteer hours, programs to the memviding them with bers of the board valuable “firstof education on hand experience” Feb. 6 and shared working in a what to expect this school. summer. “Project Great is The Project still a wonderful Great program has place that children seen significant love to be a part growth, according of,” Gigante said. to program direc- NICOlE GIGANTE “Our staff is exceltor Nicole Gigante, Project Great lent; our coordinawith enrollment coordinator tors are leaders and numbers surpasswe offer a safe and ing previous years. The before- and after-school nurturing place for our chilcare initiative, which provides dren before and after school.” Community education direc“exactly what working families need each and every day,” she tor Chris D’Ambrosio highlighted three district-operated said, had a record number of participants during the school community education proyear, with 290 students utilizing grams. He outlined the disthe drop-in services throughout trict’s success with Winter the year. Continued on page 8
By KElSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
O
Maureen Lennon/Herald
District monitors possible threat to local education funds By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
As the Trump administration plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the New York state government and schools — including the Rockville Centre school district — are reacting. District Superintendent Matt Gaven said it would be “premature” to take a stance as information is still being rolled out. “Cong ress established the de par tment through law, so I would imagine the legislative branch would need to weigh in as well,” Gaven
said. “In addition, the specific details of President Trump’s plan to dissolve the Department of Education have yet to be revealed.” State officials, however, are speaking out against the administration’s plans, calling the proposed cuts antithetical to a longstanding commitment to educational equity and inclusion. In a statement posted on the State Education Department website on Feb. 3, the state Board of Regents and the department expressed their opposition to executive actions aimed at shrinking the size of the Education Department, an initiative pushed by Trump administration officials Continued on page 20
ur staff is excellent; our coordinators are leaders, and we offer a safe and nurturing place for our children before and after school.