Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1.50
Friday, April 26, 2024
Vol. 99, No. 17
KIDS GUIDE
PLAZA DEVELOPER’S REVISED PLAN PANNED
RUNNING 7 MARATHONS IN 7 DAYS
PAGES 21-28
PAGE 2
PAGE 47
State aid to schools rises in budget deal
D N A E X P L O R AT I O N
N. Shore Districts sees gains with $1.3B increase, continuation of Hold Harmless Nassau County schools will receive a year-to-year 5.69% boost in state aid, with a majority of North Shore districts seeing increases from the prior year and from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initial proposal. The New York State Legislature adopted the 2024-2025 $237 billion state budget nearly three weeks late Saturday, which encompassed an additional $1.3 billion in school state aid and the continuation of the foundation aid Hold Harmless policy. Overall, more than $35.3 billion is being allocated to schools throughout the state, increasing by 3.82% from the prior year. Also adopted in the budget is a 421-p tax incentive to construct housing outside New York City, including $650 million in discretionary funds for pro-housing communities, $500 million for the construction of up to 15,000 new homes on state land and incentives for accessory dwelling units. The school aid increase comes after months of pushback from local school districts opposing the governor’s proposal to repeal Hold Harmless, a procedure that ensures school districts receive the same amount or more in foundation aid from year to year. But with all school districts adopt-
ing budgets before the state budget passage, it is uncertain how these late school aid numbers will impact their budgets. The Manhasset School District was at the forefront in advocating for the continuation of the Hold Harmless policy, with nearly every budget meeting including a push for residents to advocate for the re-implementation and to reach out to their representatives. The district was facing a $629,000, or 20.7%, drop in its foundation aid. Yet it crafted its budget on the assumption that these funds would be restored. If it was not restored, then its fallback was fulfilling those $629,000 in missing funds with FEMA recovery funds. The Manhasset School District will now be receiving the largest proportional increase in state aid with a 25.4% boost. In total, it will be getting $6,318,661 in state aid, a $1,279,686 increase from the prior year. The state aid numbers are based on state legislation as reported by Newsday. The state aid numbers represent the total state aid, with breakdowns for foundation aid not available. Included in the state aid proposals is the allocation of nearly $1 million for universal pre-K, which some schools are unable to utilize if they do not have such a program. Continued on Page 44
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Great Neck South High students took a field trip to the DNA Learning Center in Cold Spring Harbor where they learned about biotechnology.
Toch, Chen unopposed in G.N. ed board election BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
election this May in an uncontested election. Toch, a financial analyst and tax Great Neck Board of Education Vice President Grant Toch and Trust- lawyer, first ran for a spot on the ee Steve Chen are running for re- school board in 2017, ultimately
BEST
10TH ANNUAL
2024
BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
OF
NASSAU
COUNTY WWW.THEISLAND360.COM/CONTEST2024
vote
dropping out of the race. Former Trustee Jeffrey Shi was then elected in a contested election against Nikolas Kron. Continued on Page 45
NOW THROUGH MAY 24
WHO WILL BE THE FAVORITES IN 2024? https://theisland360.com/bonscontest/