Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, February 15, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 7
GUIDE TO SPECIAL OCCASIONS
THIRD PRECINCT TALKS VAPING
CUOMO BOOSTS HUB PLAN WITH GRANT
PAGES 41-48
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PAGE 6
A student voice in Herricks contract talks
SCOUTS’ HONOR
High school junior calls for 2 sides to resolve differences at board meet BY J E D HENDRIXSON In the ongoing saga of the Herricks school district teachers’ contract negotiations, one group affected by the division has not spoken up. District students, up until the board’s meeting Thursday night, had not made public comment on the state of the negotiations between the Herricks Teachers Association and the Board of Education. Junior Kathryn Ritchie broke the trend. “Herricks students see both sides of the argument despite the little information given from both sides as we have been taught to extrapolate and critical think by our indisputably high-quality teachers,” Ritchie said. Ritchie mentioned that from the board’s most recent statement, the negotiations have entered a factfinding process, which will involve a mediator to determine a possible
resolution to the negotiations, which have been going on for over a year. The teachers previous contract agreement, which the teachers are still currently working under, expired in June 2018. The implications of working under an expired contract and not having agreements that reflect the current economy are worrisome for students, according to Ritchie, because Herricks’ staff are like family to the students. “Herricks staff do their jobs extraordinarily and should be fairly compensated, which we know can be achieved” he said. Ritchie acknowledged the board’s position on considering the taxpayers of the Herricks community was important, adding that the district’s teachers are in fact among the highest paid in Nassau County, but said that the personal lives are staff can vary and the statement on median salaries may not encompass all teachers. Continued on Page 70
PHOTO COURTESY OF BONNIE PARENTE
Scouts at St. Aidan Church’s mass Sunday.
W.P. board to host hearing on marijuana in village BY J E D HENDRIXSON
later this month on what, if any, place marijuana will have in the village. On Feb. 25, the board was Following the lead of neighboring municipalities, the slated to host a public hearing Williston Park Board of Trust- to discuss a local law potenees will hold a public hearing tially prohibiting the sale and
distribution of marijuana and marijuana-related products in retail and non-medical settings. Village Mayor Paul Ehrbar said he encourages residents to come to the hearing to discuss Continued on Page 71
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