Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
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Friday, August 28, 2020
Vol. 95, No. 35
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
G.N. ALUM SEEKS KIDNEY DONOR
CUOMO EASES VOTING RULES
PAGE 25-32
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School district officials release reopening plans K-5 students will have in-person classes; grades 6-12 will utilize hybrid schedule BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Great Neck school officials outlined plans for reopening, including in-person instruction five days a week for elementary school students, hybrid in-person and remote instruction for secondary school students, and an option for full remote instruction for all students due to the coronavirus pandemic. The district announced that the first day of school for all students will be Sept. 3, which will allow for three additional professional development days for faculty and staff. High school schedules were provided to parents last Thursday, elementary class lists will be available on Friday, and middle school schedules will be accessible on Sept. 2. According to the district, 802 elementary students and 939 secondary students had already opted for exclusive remote instruction for the fall, which accounts for 25 percent of students. “Health and safety guidelines
have also forced us to reimagine what instruction will look like,” District Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said. “For the 75 percent of families who have expressed the preference for inschool instruction for their children, we’ve coordinated logistics to ensure that class sizes are small.” At the elementary level, this translates to 9 to 12 students per pre-K class and 12 to 16 students for K-5 classes. The hybrid instructional model at the middle and high schools decreases daily student density by more than 50 percent, allowing for smaller class sizes and more space for social distancing. Virtual classes for pre-K rooms will have a maximum occupancy of 18 students, grades K-3 will have an average of 24 students, and grades 4-5 will have an average of 25 students. Virtual instruction for pre-K and kindergarten students includes daily, live, synchronous lesContinued on Page 53
PHOTO BY NICOLE KI
Great Neck seniors banded together to protest the federal cuts to the United States Postal Service on Saturday.
G.N. seniors protest cuts to Postal Service BY N I C OL E K I Around 30 local seniors protested at a Great Neck post office on Saturday over mail service slowdowns following cost cuts by the Trump administration as election season closes
in.
Joining over 700 nationwide #SavethePostOffice demonstrations, the protesters on Welwyn Road held signs that read “Save Our Elections” while chanting for the resignation of newly appointed Postmaster
General Louis DeJoy. A recent “operational pivot” at the U.S. Postal Service caused etensive mail delays, overtime cuts for mail carriers and outcries about possible voter suppression across the country. Continued on Page 53
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