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Friday, May 12, 2023
Vol. 98, No. 19
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
CALLS TO CHANGE LIGHTHOUSE OVERSIGHT
SANTOS INDICTED
PAGES 25-28
PAGE 2
PAGE 13
2 seats on ed board contested Sassouni runs for re-election BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Great Neck Board of Education President Rebecca Sassouni is running for re-election to the board against challenger Niloufar Tabari. The seat currently held by Trustee Jeff Shi is being soughtby Joanne Chan and Aili Zhang. Shi withdrew his petitions to run again several weeks ago and said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Sassouni, who was first elected to the board in 2017, announced she will be running for re-election as a trustee in March. The Board of Education elects a trustee to the post of president each year. Being re-elected to the board, she said, would give her an opportunity to continue to serve the school district that her own children have attended. “I have abiding love and gratitude to this community and also to this school district,” Sassouni told Blank Slate Media in March. “And I’m very appreciative that my family enjoys the pluralism here.” Sassouni said she was pleased with some of the practices adopted by the board since she took over as president in 2021. These include the live-streaming of board meetings to make them more easily accessible. She lauded the board’s decisionmaking and collaborative work during the interview. Continued on Page 42
PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES
Funeral attendees mourn the death of Ethan Falkowitz. See related stories on pages 9, 10 and 11.
Nassau mourns 2 Roslyn teens Community grieves over promising tennis players, 14, who died in crash BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County mourned the deaths of two young Roslyn tennis players after an accused drunk driver cut short their lives last week and snuffed out the dreams their families, school, friends and community had for the talented 14-year-olds. The Roslyn School District, in
a statement, reflected on the passing of Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, both middle school students, and two injured high school friends. “The tragic passing of two of our Roslyn Middle School students is a tremendous loss for their families, friends, and our school community,” the statement said. “The district ex-
tends our deepest condolences and asks that everyone respect the families’ right to grieve privately during this very difficult time…We wish a speedy and complete recovery to our two Roslyn High School students in the hospital. Our hearts are broken.” The district also said it will have psychologists, guidance counselors and other social workers set up at
each school to provide support for students, staff or families. Hassenbein and Falkowitz were killed after being hit by an allegedly drunk driver behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram traveling on the wrong side of the road in Jericho, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Continued on Page 12
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