Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, September 25, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 39
N E W H Y D E PA R K
GUIDE TO FALL
WILLISTON PARK SPY ARREST
RUTH BADER GINSBURG MOURNED IN NASSAU
PAGES 25-40
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No anti-Asian remarks made at school: supe
M U S TA N G P R I D E
Prendergast touts G.N. school district programs to help educate students BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z In response to a letter sent by parent leaders saying racist antiAsian remarks and incidents have occurred in Great Neck, School Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said no incidents had occurred on school grounds. The letter, signed by nearly 40 parent leaders in the school district, said younger Asian students were asked if they eat bats and were called “COVID-19 spreaders” by other students. The letter said the racial slurs and hateful comments have been directed primarily at “young, defenseless children ranging from elementary to high school age.” The letter did not specify where the alleged instances occurred but parents said there have been “numerous anti-Asian” comments and remarks in the Great Neck community as recently as two weeks ago. “I do want to reassure and confirm that the district absolutely
remains committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for students as well as staff, and we denounce any type of bias behavior,” Prendergast said last Wednesday during a virtual Board of Trustees meeting. Prendergast noted the “longstanding programs” throughout the school district that support and promote inclusiveness and tolerance and educate students on how to act properly. Prendergast said the schools are committed to promoting diversity of all kinds and will continue to work with students, staff, parents and other stakeholders to enhance the district’s education on those topics. “We have practices pre-K through 12 including programs and workshop models affiliated with the Anti-Defamation League and our wonderful partnership with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center,” Prendergast said. Continued on Page 50
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL GANCI
During the summer months, the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District prepared for the upcoming school year by completing various projects in all four school buildings.
JFK student tests positive for virus; 1st case in district BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
Great Neck school district, officials announced on Friday. Information about the stuA student at John F. Ken- dent cannot be released due nedy Elementary School tested to privacy laws, according to a positive for the coronavirus, statement from district Superthe first known case in the intendent Teresa Prendergast.
Individuals who were not directly notified of the confirmed case can conclude that they or their child was not in close contact with the infected student, Prendergast said. Continued on Page 51
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