Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, May 31, 2024
Vol. 73, No. 22
HarborFest 2024
PROUDLY PROUD Y PRESENT
S
The Annu An al Floral Park
TREET T FEST S IVAL
FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH • 5PMOn Tulip Avenue! from Verbena 10PM
Avenue to Plainfield
Face ace painting • Balloon
Avenue
Art • Food, Fun & Giveaw ays
● Live Bands ●
DJ’s ● Fabulous Dining • Outdoor se seating ● Local merch ant shopping indoor & outdoor ● See the Startin ting g Gate ffor the An Annua nuall Belmont ● Belmont Park Starting Gate
HARBORFEST, FLORAL PARK STREET FAIR A FUN FAMI FAMIL F LY L Y EVENT FOR ALL A AGES GES!!
t io n , Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a p le a se sca n t h e co d e b e lo w
SCAN
ME!
PAGES 15-46
TRANSMISSION LINE FORUM
TRUMP ENDORSES D’ESPOSITO
PAGE 4
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Gulf remains in per pupil spending $20K difference between districts continues even after state aid changes BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The disparity in North Shore school districts’ spending per pupil is projected to continue next school year, with a more than $20,000 difference between the highest and lowest spending districts, according to an analysis by Blank Slate Media. The average spending of all the school districts per student is expected to rise for the next school year, surpassing the state average and New York City average by thousands. A slew of financial pressures exacerbated by rising insurance costs and inflation plagued nearly every school district this recent budget season. These rising costs were compounded by threats of school districts seeing drops in their state foundation aid for the first time. While districts’ foundation aid was reinstated by the state, many still reported not receiving the full amounts they had anticipated. But school districts’ rankings for spending per student remained nearly the same from the 2023-2024 school year to 2024-2025. The range of spending tops out at $47,627 per student and falls as low as $25,233. In each of the town’s 11 school districts, spending per student is based on student enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year provided by New York State
and the district’s adopted budgets for 2024-2025. The Town of North Hempstead’s 11 school districts will spend an average of about $36,523 per student. For 20232024 the average was $35,425. The New York State average is estimated at $33,404, according to The Empire Center, a nonprofit think tank. In 2022, the most recent year with national figures available, national spending per student averaged $15,633. This was the highest year-to-year increase as well, rising by 8.9% from 2021, which averaged $14,358 per student. New York State nearly doubled the national average in the 2021-2022 school year with spending at $29,873 per pupil. New York City, which has just one school district, is projected to spend $31,256 per student in 2024. This is below the average spending per student on the North Shore by more than $5,000. According to The Empire Center, Long Island school districts are on track to spend the most per student in the state. The North Shore School District is expected to spend $46,830 per student, the highest amount among school districts included in the Town of North Hempstead. Continued on Page 64
PHOTO BY TAYLOR HERZLICH
Mineola Fire Department members perform a flag procession at the village’s Memorial Day ceremony.
Honoring those who made ultimate sacrifice B Y T A Y L O R H E R Z L I C H the annual parade due to the local wreaths stood behind the podium
and a giant American flag hung from weather forecast. Residents packed into the com- the wall. The Village of Mineola held a “Today, we Americans across the reverent Memorial Day ceremony at munity center, where young Scouts the Village Hall Community Center lined the walls and carried Ameri- country commemorate the brave Continued on Page 65 Monday afternoon after canceling can flags, ornate red, white and blue
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TOP BUSINESS
LEADERS OF NASSAU COUNTY NETWORKING AWARDS EVENT
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2024 LEONARD’S PALAZZO OF GREAT NECK - 6:00PM