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Friday, December 7, 2018
Vol. 67, No. 49
GUIDE TO PARTIES, DINING
itmor a blank slate media/l
SHOPPING
HOLIDAY GUIDE
STUDENTS PASS BILL
NIFA OK OKss COUNTY BUDGET
PAGES 33-48
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r 7, 2018 section • decembe publicat ions special
Teachers press Herricks board on contract
H O L I D AY C H E E R
Again express frustration with talks; Celano says mediator now involved BY J E D HENDRIXSON For the second time in three months, members of the Herricks Teachers’ Association attended the Board of Education’s regularly scheduled meeting to voice complaints over contract negotiations. “For the first time ever, we are now approaching the beginning of the sixth-month mark of working under an expired teachers’ contract,” union President Nidya Degliomini said at the meeting last Thursday. “Although we continue to meet, talks between the district and the HTA have reached new and unprecedented levels.” The teachers’ association has been working without a contract since June 30. At a previous meeting, hundreds of members of the Herricks district staff showed up in solidarity over the contract dispute. Though far fewer attended Thursday night, there was still standing room only
in the crowded sea of blue. “In the last five years we have worked together with the board, administration, parents and community to foster a more positive and amiable relationship,” Degliomini, a sixth-grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Herricks Middle School, said. “This hard work took much effort from all involved parties and our students have benefited a great deal from this partnership.” Though Degliomini and Superintendent Fino Celano declined to discuss the disagreements publicly, Celano commented on the status of the negotiations. “The district and Herricks Teachers’ Association have been engaged in collective bargaining for some time now,” Celano said, but they have not reached a settlement. A mediator is now working with the board and union to continue the negotiations, Celano said. Continued on Page 66
PHOTO BY JED HENDRIXSON
Santa Claus listened to children’s Chirstmas lists at the Village of Williston Park’s annual tree lighting. See story on page 10.
Hempstead honors ex Mineola fire Chief Pratt BY J E D HENDRIXSON
the Town of Hempstead’s firefighting service award. “I’m extremely honored Joseph Pratt, former chief and grateful to the departof the Mineola Volunteer Fire ment,” Pratt said. “I’ve put peoDepartment, was named as the ple up for the same award and department’s 2018 recipient of to be recognized is amazing.”
Pratt was awarded by Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen at the town’s 2018 firefighter service awards. “We honor those who have taken the history of our town, Continued on Page 67
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