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, September 3, 2021
Vol. 96, No. 36
BACK TO SCHOOL
WEIGHING HOW HOCHUL UPDATE ADDS HISTORY IS TAUGHT 12K COVID DEATHS
PAGES 21-28
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G.N. schools to mandate masks, not vaccines
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SUPER SWIMMER
Prendergast informs public district has no legal ground to require inoculations BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The Great Neck school district adopted a reopening plan that calls for indoor mask mandates and social distancing protocols during last week’s Board of Education meeting. Along with constant cleaning of surfaces and fresh air flow through open windows and ventilation equipment, Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said the district will be taking every step necessary to have students return to in-person instruction as safely as possible. While contingency plans for remote education will remain in place if an uptick in the virus forces schools to shut down, Prendergast said the district’s priority is for a year of in-person learning. “The district, along with the New York State Education Department, is advocating that we maximize the return of students to inperson instruction,” Prendergast
said. “We do recognize that there is a social and emotional component for the well-being and growth of our students and we believe that will take place with the return to in-person instruction.” The guidelines outlined by the district coincided with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state’s Department of Education, and the order for masks throughout schools handed down by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week. Hochul, who replaced Andrew Cuomo after he resigned in disgrace, said at a news conference: “My number one priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely. I am immediately directing the Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering our schools.” Hochul said the state will use $335 million in federal funds to Continued on Page 34
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK PARK DISTRICT
Olympic swimmer Kate Douglass, who took home bronze in the 200-meter individual medley in Tokyo, stopped by the Parkwood pool to visit some of Great Neck’s avid swimmers.
Corcoran to return as G.N. Library director BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
to hire Denise Corcoran to again serve as director. Corcoran, who was apA familiar face will be re- pointed to the same position turning to the Great Neck Li- in January 2018, will succeed brary as the Board of Trustees interim Director George Trepp unanimously passed a motion beginning Sept. 13, according
to library officials. The trustees granted Corcoran a five-year contract with an annual salary of $175,000, with an additional $5,000 annually, during an Aug. 24 meeting. Continued on Page 34
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