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Schools
Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting
Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting Only a year after being appointed to the position, a Long Island superintendent resigned in a surprising and vague announcement. At a special meeting on Monday, July 17, the Lindenhurst Board of Education announced that it accepted the resignation of Superintendent of Schools Anthony Davidson, who had only been appointed to the position the summer before. He will serve on special assignment until Monday, July 31. However, in his place, the board appointed Vincent Caravana to serve as the district’s Acting Superintendent through Davidson’s last day, and will be the interim superintendent…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
New Principal Named In East Islip New Principal Named In East Islip
New Principal Named In East Islip A Long Island school has appointed its new principal, school officials announced. On Thursday, June 29, East Islip Middle School announced the appointment of Michael Hansen as its new principal in the wake of previous principal Bill Brennen’s retirement, officials at East Islip Union Free School District announced. Hansen previously was the district’s science and math director, and before that served as East Islip High School’s assistant principal. He spent the 22 years prior to his time at East Islip at the Connetquot School District, where he was a science teacher and then dean of stu…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer 'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer
'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer Two kindhearted students organized a fundraiser on behalf of their teacher, who had been out sick with cancer, raising hundreds for a cancer center in his honor. Rick Iurka, a social studies teacher at Nesaquake Middle School who left his classes in April 2023 to battle cancer, surprised students by making an appearance at the school’s “Moving Up Day” (a day to celebrate eighth graders ‘moving up’ to high school) – only to be surprised himself. Students Gracyn Catalanotto and Morgan DeBello, who had previously had Iurka as their seventh-grade teacher, came up with an idea to raise money f…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says
This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says When it comes to quality education, students on Long Island are in good hands, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. Of the top 10 best school districts in New York, nine can be found right here on Long Island, according to the website’s 2023 “Best School Districts In New York” report.  They are: Great Neck Public Schools at No. 1 Jericho Union Free School District at No. 2 Syosset Central School District at No. 3 Roslyn Union Free School District at No. 4 Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District at No. 6 Herricks Union Free School District at No. 7 Half Hollow…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze
Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze “I can speak firsthand to the way that Harmony and its staff have been there to support my daughter and myself during the most difficult times of our lives.” When Harmony Heights Residential and Day School went up in flames during the early hours of Monday, May 15, families and supporters of the therapeutic school wasted no time before springing into action. Earlier Report: Schoolhouse Blaze: East Norwich's Harmony Heights Catches Fire The school, which has been in operation for nearly 50 years, aims to provide an education to students who suffer from conditions such as depression, e…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance
New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance Official guidelines regarding a Native American mascot ban that affects a dozen Long Island schools warned that districts that do not comply could face a variety of consequences, but losing funding will be a ‘last resort,’ education officials said. The New York State Department of Education (NYSED) released its guidelines regarding the  Board of Regents' April 2023 decision to ban the use of Indigenous names, logos, and mascots by public schools, including what local schools will face as consequences and what will not need to be changed. Earlier Report: Native American Mascot Ban Prompt…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board
Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board A New York high school senior is going from the classroom to the boardroom - the school boardroom that is. Long Island’s Quinn Bedell, an 18-year-old senior at West Islip High School, was elected to the West Islip Board of Education as a write-in candidate in the election held Tuesday, May 16. “I would like to thank the West Islip community for choosing me to be a trustee on the Board of Education. I am truly honored,” Bedell wrote on Facebook Wednesday, May 17. “I could not have done this without the overwhelming support of this community. I am forever grateful to every one of you and I …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says
These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says When it comes to quality education, students on Long Island are in good company, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. Four local school districts were ranked among the top 10 in the country as part of the website’s 2023 “Best School Districts In America” report. They are: Great Neck Public Schools at No. 3 Jericho Union Free School District at No. 4 Syosset Central School District at No. 5 Roslyn Union Free School District at No. 6 Each district was given an overall grade of A+, earning top marks in the categories of academics, teachers, college prep, administration, …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence
Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence Out of just 830 districts across the nation, 60 local districts have been selected as the stars of the show. Dozens of Long Island districts have been awarded by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for having the Best Community For Music Education (BCME). The program, which is now in its 24th year, recognizes “outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders and their support for music education as part of a well-rounded education for all children,” according to the website. Only 830 school districts and 78 schools across 43 st…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools
Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools For at least ten Long Island school districts, a big change is underway. The New York State Board of Regents voted on Tuesday, April 18 to ban the use of Native American names, mascots, or logos by public schools across the state of New York. The ruling, which is an addition to the existing Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, will require school districts to make a commitment to the rule by the end of this school year. The amendment states that “the use of Native American mascots” could create a hostile environment for students, thus putting it in violation of the Digni…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents More than 50 school districts across New York reported receiving swatting threats of an active shooter. The districts reporting the incidents on Tuesday, April 4 were located on Long Island, in Central New York, the Southern Tier, and the North Country, authorities said.  "I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school - swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers, and families," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Tuesday. On Thursday, March 30, numerous school districts reported receiving swatting calls of…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say Authorities are investigating numerous incidents of schools in New York state receiving swatting calls claiming there is an active shooter in the building, state police said.  The threatening calls were received by schools on Thursday morning, March 30, and have all been found to be false, state police announced.  The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats. pi…

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by Ben Crnic