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Friday, May 31, 2024
Vol. 12, No. 22
HarborFest 2024
PROUDLY PROUD Y PRESENT
S
The Annu An al Floral Park
TREET T FEST S IVAL
FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH • 5PMOn Tulip Avenue! from Verbena 10PM
Avenue to Plainfield
Face ace painting • Balloon
Avenue
Art • Food, Fun & Giveaw ays
● Live Bands ●
DJ’s ● Fabulous Dining • Outdoor se seating ● Local merch ant shopping indoor & outdoor ● See the Startin ting g Gate ffor the An Annua nuall Belmont ● Belmont Park Starting Gate
HARBORFEST, FLORAL MANHASSET BEATS GARDEN TRUMP ENDORSES D’ESPOSITO CITY, FALLS IN FINALS PARK STREET FAIR A FUN FAMI FAMIL F LY L Y EVENT FOR ALL A AGES GES!!
t io n , Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a p le a se sca n t h e co d e b e lo w
SCAN
ME!
PAGES 15-46
PAGE 67
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Gulf remains in per pupil spending $20K difference between N. Shore school districts BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The disparity in North Shore school districts’ spending per pupil is projected to continue next school year, with a more than $20,000 difference between the highest and lowest spending districts, according to an analysis by Blank Slate Media. The average spending of all the school districts per student is expected to rise for the next school year, surpassing the state average and New York City average by thousands. A slew of financial pressures exacerbated by rising insurance costs and inflation plagued nearly every school district this recent budget sea-
son. These rising costs were compounded by threats of school districts seeing drops in their state foundation aid for the first time. While districts’ foundation aid was reinstated by the state, many still reported not receiving the full amounts they had anticipated. But school districts’ rankings for spending per student remained nearly the same from the 2023-2024 school year to 2024-2025. The range of spending tops out at $47,627 per student and falls as low as $25,233. In each of the town’s 11 school districts, spending per student is based on student enrollment for the
2023-2024 school year provided by New York State and the district’s adopted budgets for 2024-2025. The Town of North Hempstead’s 11 school districts will spend an average of about $36,523 per student. For 2023-2024 the average was $35,425. The New York State average is estimated at $33,404, according to The Empire Center, a nonprofit think tank. In 2022, the most recent year with national figures available, national spending per student averaged $15,633. This was the highest year-to-year increase as well, rising by 8.9% from 2021, which averaged $14,358 per student. Continued on Page 64
Smith, Melkonian say look to work with newcomer Alvarez elected to Port Board of Education, ousts Block PHOTO BY JOSEPH NEUMAYER, COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD
A fireworks extravaganza was displayed over North Hempstead Beach Park for the town’s 40th annual Memorial Day commemoration. See story on page 2.
BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The Port Washington Board of Education will be changing in July with newcomer Sandra Alvarez set to replace Trustee Adam Block, who was not re-elected. While disappointed in Block’s
B L A N K S L AT E M E D I A P R E S E N T S
TOP BUSINESS
LEADERS OF NASSAU COUNTY NETWORKING AWARDS EVENT
impending exit from the board, reelected board members Adam Smith and Nanette Melkonian said they are looking forward to working with Alvarez and the unique perspective she will bring. Alvarez and incumbents Smith and Melkonian were elected to the
Port Washington Board of Education May 21, prevailing in a field of eight candidates. While the field was crowded, Melkonian said greater participation strengthens the Board of Education. “I believe that it’s a wonderful Continued on Page 65
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