Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, Roslyn Heights, and Searingtown
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Friday, May 12, 2017
Vol. 66, No. 19
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Herricks eyes prom shift in safety’s name Annual dance will be night before graduation rehearsal next year BY N O A H M A N S K A R Herricks High School administrators plan to hold graduation rehearsal for seniors the morning after the prom next year, changing what some call a rite of passage. The prom is currently held on a Thursday night in June, a week before graduation the following Thursday, Superintendent Fino Celano said. But next year it will be moved to the Thursday night before commencement on Saturday, with rehearsal on Friday morning, The move is aimed at giving students less of an opportunity to party through the weekend, reducing the risk of someone getting hurt or worse, high school principal James Ruck said. “We’ll never know for sure; I do believe that making this change, over time, will save some kids’ lives,� Celano said at Thursday’s Herricks school board meeting.
Ruck said he knows of seven other North Shore high schools that have made similar moves in recent years with good outcomes. Many high school seniors rent beach houses in places like the Hamptons for the weekend after prom or make other plans to celebrate with friends, parents and school oďŹƒcials said at the meeting. Data from the National Highway TraďŹƒc Safety Administration shows that in 2015, teenagers died in car crashes most often in May, June and August — during prom and graduation season. October was another month with a high number of deaths. Ruck announced the move to parents in a recent email. Much of the feedback has been positive, he said, but many have questioned the change. One parent spoke against it Thursday, saying he thinks it takes away freedom from both students and parents. Continued on Page 78
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HERRICKS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Practice-A-Thon Searingtown student Joelle Tan practices the violin. She was among a group of students who participated in the Harry Chapin Practice-A-Thon to launch the school’s first-ever Service Day, raising nearly $2,000. See story on page 68.
Budget, 2 candidates on Herricks school ballot BY N O A H MANSKAR Herricks school district voters will cast ballots next Tuesday to replace the school board’s longest-serving sitting trustee. Henry Zanetti of Williston
School Election Coverage PAGES 2, 28 Park is the unopposed candidate on the May 16 ballot to replace Christine Turner, the
board’s vice president, who is leaving in July at the end of her 27th year on the board. Joining Zanetti on the ballot is Trustee James Gounaris of Manhasset Hills, who is running unopposed for a third three-year term. Continued on Page 28
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