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Friday, January 26, 2018
Vol. 67, No. 4
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
HERRICKS HIGH TO GET NEW PRINCIPAL
CURRAN NAMES RYDER POLICE COMMISSIONER
PAGES 31-42
PAGE 11
PAGE 6
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N.S. schools get small hike in Cuomo plan
C O M E D I C B E AT S
Proposed budget calls for 1.99% increase, below rest of county, L.I. BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a $1.74 million boost in state operating aid for North Shore schools, according to budget numbers released! by the governor’s budget office, a roughly 1.99 percent increase from $87,440,757 to $89,181,026. If the proposed aid were to pass unchanged, the $1.74 million would be a small portion of the $26.35 million boost in state aid to Nassau County schools, which get more than $1 billion each year. It is also below the rate of increase for Nassau County and Long Island overall, which would see 2.61 and 2.3 percent boosts, respectively. Overall, Cuomo proposed a $769 million increase in school aid statewide, or 3 percent. But for some North Shore schools, it might not be enough. Michael Borges, the executive director of the New York State Association of School Business Officials,
said that school districts feel the pressure of the state tax cap and a rising number of high needs students, and will likely feel the brunt of the federal tax ovehaul bill next year as people might vote down school budgets. Consequently, he said, an increase in state aid can help offset these pressures for both “high need school districts” – meaning state aid is required to fund more of their operations – and “low need school districts” like ones on the North Shore. “The governor has proposed a 3 percent increase in state aid, which, given the circumstances, is understandable,” Borges said, “but not adequate based on needs.” The Manhasset school district is getting a small increase in operating aid – from $4.5 million to $4.52 million, or 0.61 percent. But Rosemary Johnson, the district’s deputy superintendent for business, said the schools are ultimately getting $2,000 less than the previous year in state aid overall because of delayed buildContinued on Page 60
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
The Maccabeats, an Orthodox Jewish a cappella group based at Yeshiva University, performed a number of popular songs and classics with a Jewish twist, such as their rendition of “Hasmonean: A Hamilton Hanukkah,” Sunday afternoon at Temple Beth Sholom.
Albertson doctor tries to strangle nurse: cops BY R E B ECC A K L A R A surgeon at Nassau University Medical Center attempted to strangle a nurse on Monday, according to Nassau County police.
The doctor, Venkatesh Sasthakonar, 44, of Albertson, allegedly approached the 51-year-old nurse from behind! at 4:45 p.m. and wrapped an elastic cord around her neck after a dis-
agreement between the two, according to detectives. The nurse was treated for substantial pain to her neck, according to police. Continued on Page 69
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