A Few Clouds 73°
Schools
HV Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues (UPDATE) HV Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues (UPDATE)
HV Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues (Update) A Hudson Valley high school softball coach removed from team activities last month remains under investigation, but the case has not risen to the level of a federal Title IX complaint, district officials confirmed.   Bruce Guyette, the longtime varsity softball coach at Minisink Valley High School and one of the most successful in New York State history, has been under review since early May following unspecified allegations, as Daily Voice previously reported.   In a statement to Daily Voice on Thursday, June 12, Minisink Valley Central School District communications di…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
School Worker's ICE Outfit On 'Hero Day' Sparks Outrage, Reassignment At NY Campus School Worker's ICE Outfit On 'Hero Day' Sparks Outrage, Reassignment At NY Campus
School Worker's ICE Outfit On 'Hero Day' Sparks Outrage, Reassignment At NY Campus An elementary school event meant to celebrate everyday heroes has sparked controversy after a staff member reportedly dressed up an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The incident occurred Wednesday, June 11, at Northwest Elementary School during the Amityville Union Free School District’s “Hero Day,” when students and staff were encouraged to dress as role models or public servants. One employee showed up wearing a hat and jacket identifying them as an ICE agent, parents claimed on social media. The move was deemed especially offensive in a district where more than 58 pe…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Bullet Fragment Found Inside High School In Westchester, Prompts Police Search Bullet Fragment Found Inside High School In Westchester, Prompts Police Search
Bullet Fragment Found Inside High School In Westchester, Prompts Police Search A bullet fragment found inside a Westchester County high school triggered a police response and search of the building, district officials said. The incident happened Monday, June 9, when a Peekskill High School staff member discovered what appeared to be part of a bullet inside the building and reported it to school security, according to a letter sent to families by Peekskill City School District Superintendent David Mauricio.  School officials quickly alerted Peekskill Police, who responded and confirmed the object was not a complete bullet. There was no evidence of a firearm in the…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Superintendent Resigns In Westchester: Here's What's Next For District Superintendent Resigns In Westchester: Here's What's Next For District
Superintendent Resigns In Westchester: Here's What's Next For District A leadership transition is on the horizon for a Westchester school district.  Pleasantville Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. Tina DeSa will resign from her role effective Monday, June 30, the district’s Board of Education announced following its meeting on Tuesday, June 3. In a message to families, DeSa reflected on her nearly four-year tenure with the district, expressing gratitude for the relationships she’s built and the work accomplished during her time as superintendent.  "When I look at what we have accomplished together, I am extremely proud of the work that h…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Showdown At Massapequa: McMahon Says NY Mascot Ban Violates Civil Rights Law In Campus Visit Showdown At Massapequa: McMahon Says NY Mascot Ban Violates Civil Rights Law In Campus Visit
Showdown At Massapequa: McMahon Says NY Mascot Ban Violates Civil Rights Law In Campus Visit Federal officials are siding with the Massapequa Chiefs — and threatening action against New York over its ban on Native American school mascots. In a dramatic visit to Massapequa High School on Friday, May 30, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that New York’s statewide mascot policy violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) determined that state officials illegally targeted Native American imagery while allowing other race- and et…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
High School Coach Under Investigation, Removed From Team Duties In Hudson Valley: Officials High School Coach Under Investigation, Removed From Team Duties In Hudson Valley: Officials
High School Coach Under Investigation, Removed From Team Duties In Hudson Valley: Officials A varsity softball coach at an Orange County high school has been removed from team activities while the district investigates unspecified allegations, officials confirmed.  In a letter dated Thursday, May 8, Minisink Valley Central School District administrators said they became aware of allegations involving the high school’s varsity softball head coach late the night before and acted immediately to launch an internal investigation. As a result, the coach, who was not named, has been removed from all team practices and games “for the duration of our investigation,” the district said.…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
VIDEO: NY Dad Keeps Promise To Son—And Degree—In Viral Commencement Chase VIDEO: NY Dad Keeps Promise To Son—And Degree—In Viral Commencement Chase
Video: NY Dad Keeps Promise To Son—And Degree—In Viral Commencement Chase A University at Buffalo graduate turned his commencement into a viral family affair. Jean-Paul Al-Arab made headlines when he sprinted across the stage while carrying his infant son–and while being chased by campus police–at UB’s College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18. Al-Arab, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 2022, earned his bachelor or arts degree in criminology all while working overnight restaurant shifts and being the primary caretaker for his son during the day while his wife worked, he told NPR. “I promised myself and I promised him …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Judge Halts Trump Administration's Block On Harvard Foreign Students (UPDATE) Judge Halts Trump Administration's Block On Harvard Foreign Students (UPDATE)
Judge Halts Trump Administration's Block On Harvard Foreign Students (Update) A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration's attempt to block Harvard University from hosting international students in the President's latest political attack on the Ivy League school. Massachusetts District Court Judge Allison Burroughs issued the ruling on Friday, May 23. The pause came just hours after Harvard announced the lawsuit over the Department of Homeland Security's decision to revoke the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. The suit claims the move was meant to punish Harvard for rejecting Pr…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Schools
Trump Administration Bans Harvard From Enrolling International Students Trump Administration Bans Harvard From Enrolling International Students
Trump Administration Bans Harvard From Enrolling International Students The Department of Homeland Security has taken away Harvard University's ability to host international students in President Donald Trump's latest political attack on the Ivy League college. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard's certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the department announced on Thursday, May 22. The Trump administration has accused the Cambridge, Massachusetts, university of allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist" foreign students to disrupt campus life. The decision puts the legal status in doubt for Harvard's nearly 6,80…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Schools
Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department
Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department In a decisive legal ruling, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education, mandating the reinstatement of employees who were terminated.  US District Judge Myong Joun of Massachusetts said the department cannot be shut down without Congressional approval. In his injunction, Joun also told the administration to reinstate Education Department employees who lost their jobs during the reduction-in-force announced on Tuesday, March 11, "to restore the Department to the status quo." President Trump issued an executive order on Thursda…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From NY School District Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From NY School District
Student’s Fentanyl-Laced Vape Scare Prompts Urgent Warning From NY School District A frightening incident at a New York school has prompted a stern warning from educators about the dangers of black-market marijuana products. In a letter sent to parents on Monday, May 19, the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District detailed a recent case in central New York where a student collapsed on campus after taking a single puff from a marijuana vape. The vape, which was later tested, came back positive for fentanyl—a powerful synthetic opioid, Superintendent Randy Squie said. The student was administered multiple doses of Narcan, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid ove…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
High School Employee Under Investigation For Inappropriate Conduct In Hudson Valley: Officials High School Employee Under Investigation For Inappropriate Conduct In Hudson Valley: Officials
High School Employee Under Investigation For Inappropriate Conduct In Hudson Valley: Officials A staff member at a Dutchess County high school has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate conduct, school district and law enforcement officials confirmed.  In a letter sent to families on Thursday, May 15, Arlington Central School District Superintendent Philip Benante acknowledged the serious nature of the report and said the district, which includes large parts of the towns of LaGrange, Pleasant Valley, Beekman, Poughkeepsie, and Union Vale, acted swiftly after learning of the allegations.  "Upon receiving this report, we immediately no…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent
Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent A Pennsylvania kindergartener handed out alcoholic Jell-O cups to classmates at school, alarming parents and prompting a hospital visit, school officials said. The incident happened at Johnstown Elementary School in Cambria County earlier on Wednesday, May 14, according to a statement from Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Dr. Amy Arcurio. Three students reportedly ingested alcohol from the Jell-O shots before staff intervened. All affected children were evaluated by the school nurse and then taken by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment. Parents met their children t…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
Schools
School District Names New Leader Amid Budget, Enrollment Challenges In Westchester School District Names New Leader Amid Budget, Enrollment Challenges In Westchester
School District Names New Leader Amid Budget, Enrollment Challenges In Westchester A Westchester County school district has selected a new leader to guide it through one of the most challenging periods in its recent history. In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, May 14, the Mount Vernon Board of Education appointed Dr. Demario A. Strickland as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools, effective Tuesday, July 1.  Dr. Strickland currently serves as interim superintendent for the Rochester City School District and brings nearly two decades of educational leadership experience to his new role in Westchester County, district officials said.  The appointment comes ju…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever
He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever Tom Maniscalco was 18 when he first stepped onto the Rutgers campus in 1957. Nearly 70 years later, he’s graduating. At 85 years old. The Garfield resident will earn a master’s degree in engineering this week, becoming Rutgers’ oldest graduate in school history, the university said. “It’s a sense of accomplishment at my age,” Maniscalco said. Maniscalco originally enrolled at Rutgers to study mechanical engineering, but flunked out after one semester. He got an A in calculus and a B in physics, but failed engineering drawing. “Of all things, engineering drawing! And I became a design engi…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Schools
NY School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says NY School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says
NY School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says A New York school lacrosse coach is accused of coercing a teen boy into sending him sexually explicit content using a fake identity online, federal prosecutors said. Joseph Garofalo, of Valley Stream, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York on Friday, April 18. Garofalo, an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School, was arrested following a months-long investigation by the FBI’s Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force. According to a criminal complaint, Garofalo posed as someon…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Swatting Threat Triggers Emergency Response At School In Hudson Valley Swatting Threat Triggers Emergency Response At School In Hudson Valley
Swatting Threat Triggers Emergency Response At School In Hudson Valley A false phone threat forced a lockdown at a Dutchess County boarding school, prompting a rapid response from police and school officials. The incident happened around 1:25 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, when the Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling received a threatening phone call shortly after being notified of a similar threat by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, Head of School William Taylor said.  Within minutes, the campus was placed under protective protocols, and all students, staff, faculty, and family members were secured safely, according to Taylor. Law enforcement from both th…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say A 19-year-old student is accused of intentionally setting numerous fires at a New York college dorm as his classmates slept. Joshua Thomas, of Saratoga County, was arraigned on arson charges in Albany County Court on Wednesday, May 7, a spokesperson for the DA’s office told Daily Voice. An investigation found that Thomas–a freshman at Siena College in Loudonville–poured rubbing alcohol on the ground and used a lighter to start a fire outside a dorm room in Hines Hall just after 3 a.m. on Friday, April 25, prosecutors said. At the time, two female students were asleep inside. Thomas then w…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation
NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation The Trump administration has opened an investigation into a public school district in upstate New York over its policy permitting transgender athletes. Rep. Elise Stefanik confirmed that the US Department of Education is investigating the Saratoga Springs City School District for alleged Title IX violations “after my strong public advocacy," in a post on X Tuesday, May 6. Stefanik linked to a New York Post article in which Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that the administration was looking into whether the district discriminated against girls by allowing biological boys to play …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones New York classrooms are dialing down distractions. Come this fall, all K-12 public schools in New York will implement bell-to-bell bans on student cell phone use, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Tuesday, May 6. The sweeping new policy, part of the state’s 2026 budget agreement, prohibits students from using internet-enabled personal devices anywhere on school grounds from the first bell to the last—including during lunch and study hall periods. “New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools thr…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart
Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions of Americans may soon have their wages garnished as the Trump administration resumes student loan collections paused since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 5.3 million borrowers are set to receive wage garnishment notices in the summer of 2025, according to the Department of Education. The federal government officially restarted student loan debt collections on Monday, May 5. Nearly 195,000 borrowers began receiving 30-day warning letters from the Treasury Department. Their Social Security or other federal benefits will be seized through the Treasury Offset …

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Schools
HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (UPDATE) HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (UPDATE)
HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (Update) Police identified a Hudson Valley teacher who was arrested on charges related to child pornography. Sullivan County resident Christopher Dedonato, 26, of Liberty, was taken into custody Monday, May 5, following an investigation by New York State Police. Dedonato has worked as a math teacher at Liberty High School since 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he worked as a substitute teacher for both the Liberty Central and Beacon City school districts. New York State Police opened an investigation after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploit…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Possibly Tampered-With, Smoking Chromebook Prompts Early Dismissal At HS In Hudson Valley Possibly Tampered-With, Smoking Chromebook Prompts Early Dismissal At HS In Hudson Valley
Possibly Tampered-With, Smoking Chromebook Prompts Early Dismissal At HS In Hudson Valley A high school in Dutchess County was forced to dismiss students early after a student-issued Chromebook began smoking inside a classroom, school officials said.  The incident happened around 8:50 a.m. Monday, May 5, at Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, according to Superintendent Dr. Dwight Bonk of the Wappingers Central School District. The smoke from the device triggered a fire alarm, prompting emergency responders to arrive at the school. Although the fire was quickly contained, school leaders said the lingering smoke and odor made it necessary to dismiss students for …

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market A record number of federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent as debt collections resume after a five-year pause, while new college graduates face tough employment prospects. The Education Department restarted collecting defaulted federal student loan debt on Monday, May 5. Collections were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move threatens to seize tax refunds and garnish paychecks from millions of Americans in default on their loans. The Education Department said about 42.7 million people owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loan d…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Schools
School District Reverses Ending DEI Policy After Legal Review In Hudson Valley (UPDATE) School District Reverses Ending DEI Policy After Legal Review In Hudson Valley (UPDATE)
School District Reverses Ending DEI Policy After Legal Review In Hudson Valley (Update) A Putnam County school district that temporarily suspended its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy under the threat of losing critical federal funding now says it plans to fully reinstate the policy at its next board meeting.  In a letter sent to families on Thursday, May 1, the Haldane Central School District confirmed that its Board of Education intends to restore the DEI policy in its entirety during a scheduled public meeting on Tuesday, May 6.  The reversal follows the Board's vote on Tuesday, April 22 to temporarily suspend the DEI policy. That decision was made on…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody A student who faked his way into Lehigh University and received over $127,000 in aid is now in ICE custody — marking the school’s third international student in recent years to face criminal charges, including one who poisoned his roommate and another who used a fake death certificate to win a full scholarship. All three have since been removed or are being deported. Cryilstan Sowah-Nai, originally from Ghana, pleaded no contest to securing execution of documents by deception on Monday, April 28, according to the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators say he misrepresen…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
Schools
124 Employees To Be Let Go At Westchester School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say 124 Employees To Be Let Go At Westchester School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say
124 Employees To Be Let Go At Westchester School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say Facing ongoing financial challenges, a Westchester County school district has announced it will lay off 124 employees at the end of the current school year.  Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith announced the upcoming layoffs on Wednesday, April 30, citing the district's current financial situation as the reason why. The layoffs will include: 84 certified staff members, such as teachers, teaching assistants, and administrators; 40 civil service employees. All layoffs will take effect at the end of the 2024–2025 school year.  "I am saddened…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor
National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor A Pennsylvania high school teacher has been named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year, education officials announced Tuesday, April 29. Ashlie Crosson teaches English and journalism at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, where she also helps students publish a newspaper, magazine, and run social media accounts. She earned the national title after being selected as Pennsylvania’s 2024 Teacher of the Year by the state Department of Education. Crosson started teaching in Delaware in 2011, later returning to Pennsylvania to work in the Bellefonte Area School District while earning her m…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
Schools
School District Suspends DEI Policy To Protect $450K In Federal Funding In Hudson Valley School District Suspends DEI Policy To Protect $450K In Federal Funding In Hudson Valley
School District Suspends DEI Policy To Protect $450K In Federal Funding In Hudson Valley A Putnam County school district has voted to temporarily suspend its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy following last-minute legal guidance to protect hundreds of thousands of dollars in critical federal funding, officials announced.   In a letter sent to families on Saturday, April 26, the Board explained that its decision came just hours before its Tuesday, April 22 meeting, after the district’s legal counsel advised immediate action to maintain compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Failure to do so, according to the Board, could have put $450,000…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Schools
Trump Weighs In On NY School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’ Trump Weighs In On NY School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’
Trump Weighs In On NY School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’ President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind a Long Island school district fighting to keep its Native American-themed mascot. Trump came to the defense of the Massapequa Chiefs, blasting New York’s push for a rebrand as “ridiculous” and “an affront to our great Indian population," in a Truth Social post on Monday, April 21. The school district has been ordered to retire its decades-old mascot under a 2023 New York State mandate banning Indigenous-themed names and logos in public schools. “I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the M…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Schools
150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education 150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education
150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education More than 150 college leaders issued a scathing letter criticizing the Trump administration's escalating threats against universities. The American Association of Colleges and Universities released the public letter on Tuesday, April 22. The group of university presidents accused President Donald Trump of "unprecedented government overreach," warning that the crackdown could harm students and democracy. Trump has demanded that colleges eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, along with other orders aimed at limiting campus activism. The Trump administration has paused…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker