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Friday, feb 7
Schools
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…
Schools
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation
New York is joining the fight against fake news. Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state’s first “Media Literacy” toolkit to help educators teach students how to critically analyze and assess information, particularly online. The initiative, announced Thursday, Jan. 23, follows growing concerns about misinformation, social media influence, and the role of online radicalization in recent violent incidents, including the Buffalo mass shooting, Hochul’s office said. “Whether it’s cell phones and social media or the scourge of misinformation teens encounter each day, I’m taking action to protect …
Schools
Crossing Guard Assaulted Outside Long Island Elementary School
A suspect is behind bars after allegedly assaulting a crossing guard outside a Long Island elementary school. The incident happened in Hewlett, near Broadway and Stevenson Avenue, at around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. A Nassau County Police crossing guard was covering her crossing assignment for Hewlett Elementary School when Dominga Rudder, 46, approached her and started yelling, the agency said. The yelling escalated and Rudder threw several pieces of ice at her, injuring her leg, according to police. She fled on foot and was arrested several blocks away without incident. A Nassau Co…
Schools
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
Students could soon go from scrolling to schooling. A bold initiative unveiled by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Jan. 22, would restrict smartphone use in all K-12 schools during the entire school day, including lunch time. The proposal, introduced as part of the governor’s 2026 Executive Budget, aims to prioritize student learning and mental health, Hochul’s office said. “From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. Under the…
Schools
Man Exposes Himself Near Long Island Elementary School: Police
A Dix Hills man is accused of exposing himself in a vehicle parked near an elementary school in Uniondale, police announced on Saturday, Jan. 18. Willian Portillo Melara, 29, of 3 Foxridge Circle, was arrested following the incident, which occurred on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 2:40 p.m., Nassau County police said. Portillo Melara was reportedly sitting inside a white Honda Pilot parked on Dale Place near Smith Street, in the vicinity of the Smith Street School, when he was seen exposing and touching himself inappropriately by a 22-year-old woman, detectives said. The victim immediately wen…
Schools
Closure Of Suffolk County Elementary School Under Consideration By Board Of Education
It appears the writing’s on the chalkboard for this Long Island elementary school. The West Babylon Union Free School District is weighing a plan to close Forest Avenue Elementary amid declining enrollment and rising costs. At a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, district officials presented the findings of a study launched last summer showing 761 fewer students since 2010 – roughly the equivalent of a large elementary school. Enrollment is projected to continue declining over the next five years, the district said. The study concluded that consolidating the district’s …
Schools
'Highly-Regarded' Suffolk Co. Coach, Mentor Honored Following Death In Rollover Crash
The Long Island athletic community is mourning the loss of a beloved high school basketball coach following his untimely death. Darrell Sumpter, a dedicated assistant varsity basketball coach at William Floyd High School, died Friday, Dec. 13, in a wreck on Sunrise Highway in Shirley, as Daily Voice reported. He was 51. The William Floyd School District confirmed his passing in a letter to parents the following day. “Mr. Sumpter was a proud William Floyd graduate, a longtime community member, a family man, and a highly-regarded coach and mentor for our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs,…
Schools
Suffolk School Staffer Fired Over 'Troubling' Social Media Posts
A recently hired staffer at a Long Island high school is out of a job after troubling social media posts surfaced. Administrators at Smithtown High School East contacted the Suffolk County Police Department on Wednesday, Dec. 18, after discovering what the district described as a series of “troubling” posts the employee shared online. Officers with the Fourth Precinct Crime Section reviewed the content and determined they were not criminal and posed no credible threat, a Suffolk County Police spokesperson told Daily Voice. The employee, who school officials said had recently been hired, wa…
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline. This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue. As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Schools
17-Year-Old Stabbed, Carjacked By Group Near Suffolk County HS
A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized following a stabbing and carjacking that occurred steps from a Long Island high school. Emergency crews in Middle Island were called to the intersection of Tie Street and Sander Court, just east of Longwood High School, shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. Suffolk County Police said the victim was walking when several people got out of a passing car and approached him. A confrontation ensued and the teen was stabbed with an unknown object, causing him to drop his car keys. One of the suspects grabbed the keys and at least one person fled the scene in t…
Schools
These Are Top Public Elementary Schools In Suffolk County, New Ranking Shows
The grades are in and these Long Island schools are head of the class. After considering a number of key areas, the following Suffolk County schools were ranked top 5 in Niche’s 2025 “Best Public Elementary Schools in Suffolk County” report: No. 1 - Vanderbilt Elementary School in Dix Hills No. 2 - Paumanok Elementary School in Dix Hills No. 3 - Nassakeag Elementary School in East Setauket No. 4 - Otsego Elementary School in Dix Hills No. 5 - Lloyd Harbor School in Lloyd Harbor All five elementary schools earned overall grades of either A or A+, receiving top marks in the academics and…
Schools
Athletic Director At School District In NY Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…
Schools
These Middle Schools Ranked Top 5 In Suffolk County, Report Says
The grades are in and these middle schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2025 “Best Schools in Suffolk County” report: No. 1 - Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills No. 2 - West Hollow Middle School in Melville No. 3 - Paul J. Gelinas Junior High School in East Setauket No. 4 - Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn No. 5 - Port Jefferson Middle School Candlewood, West Hollow, and Gelinas all hold overall grades of A+, while Oldfield and Port Jeffe…
Schools
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of LI Schools That Received Products
A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…
Schools
Beloved Long Island Educators Killed In Bus Crash Get Posthumous Street Naming
Long Island leaders are honoring two beloved educators a year after they were killed in a bus crash. The Town of Oyster Bay unveiled two new street signs in Farmingdale honoring late Farmingdale High School band director Gina Pellettiere and retired teacher Beatrice “Bea” Ferrari during a ceremony held Tuesday, Oct. 8. Pellettiere, age 43, of Massapequa, and Ferrari, age 77, of Farmingdale, died when a charter bus carrying the school’s marching band to a band camp in Pennsylvania overturned on I-84 in Orange County, in the town of Wawayanda, on Sept. 21, 2023. At least 43 people were also…
Schools
Long Island Well-Represented In Brand-New Best High School Rankings
New York is well-represented in brand-new rankings of the best high schools in New York. The first four in Niche's 2025 selections are all from New York City: Stuyvesant in Manhattan, the Bronx High School of Science, Staten Island Technical High School, and Townsend Harris High School in Queens. Checking in at No. 5 and the first Westchester County selection is Scarsdale High School. The first Long Island school picked is No. 7 Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills. Long Island schools also make up spots 10 through 13: They are Jericho, Syosset, and Great Neck South high schools. Four mor…
Schools
These Long Island Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
These Long Island schools are at the top of the class and now they have the hardware to prove it. Two elementary schools in Nassau County were among 356 schools across the country to receive the prestigious 2024 National Blue Ribbon award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing achievement gaps among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching and learning,” the de…
Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools
With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day, a Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll found. Most parents, 72-percent, said they still want their child to have their phone on them in case of an emergency, the poll found. Earlier Report: Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children The poll was conducted by 600 parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in New York Cit…
Schools
These Suffolk County Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
A group of Long Island high school seniors put in the work and now they’re in the running for one of the most prestigious academic honors in the country. Hundreds of students from across Nassau and Suffolk counties were named as semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They join more than 16,000 other students from across the United States after earning high marks on the Preliminary SAT during their junior year. In order to become finalists, students and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application which includes their academic record, an ess…
Schools
13-Year-Old Caught With Brass Knuckles At Ronkonkoma School, Police Say
A 13-year-old boy is facing charges after he was allegedly caught with brass knuckles at a Long Island school. The incident happened in Lake Ronkonkoma, at Samoset Middle School, at around 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. Suffolk County Police said a staff member asked the teen to empty his bag for an unrelated incident when the brass knuckles were discovered. The student was arrested on suspicion of criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. He is expected to be arraigned in Suffolk County Court on a later date.
Schools
Social Media Threat Raises Alarms At Elementary School In Riverhead
Security was heightened at a Long Island elementary school after authorities discovered a threatening social media post. Riverhead Police said a parent contacted the agency at around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, saying their child had found a Snapchat post making unspecific threats against “Pulaski Elementary School,” along with other schools. The threat was relayed to administrators at Pulaski Street Elementary School and police conducted extra patrols at the campus, police said. Earlier Report: New Bomb Threat Sent To Kellenberg High School For Second Straight Day Investigators…
Schools
Duo Accused Of Burglarizing All-Girls Jewish School On Long Island
Two men are accused of breaking into an all-girls, Orthodox Jewish school on Long Island. The incident happened in Cedarhurst, at the Shulamith School for Girls on Cedarhurst Avenue, at around 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 Nassau County Police said two men illegally entered the school and rummaged through several offices. On Monday, Sept. 9, investigators announced that they arrested 24-year-old Kevin Jimenez-Ramos, who is homeless, and 24-year-old Kevin Diaz, of Far Rockaway, Queens. Both men are charged with third-degree burglary. Shulamith School serves approximately 600 girls aged prescho…
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district. The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …
Schools
Long Island School Superintendent Ousted Over Possible Misconduct
A Long Island school district formally cut ties with its superintendent over possible misconduct. The Hempstead School Board voted 4-1 to remove Superintendent Regina Armstrong at a special meeting held Thursday evening, Sept. 5. Armstrong was "reassigned to home effective immediately," board President Victor Pratt said in a letter to the community. “This decision was not made lightly and comes after a comprehensive review of recent developments and their impact on our school district,” he said. Specifically, the district is investigating whether Armstrong “misused facilities” by hos…
Schools
Suspect Nabbed In String Of Thefts At Long Island College
A man is accused in a string of thefts that occurred at a Long Island college. Garden City Police arrested Austin Withers, age 28, of Hempstead, at his Crowell Street residence on suspicion of grand larceny and related charges Saturday, Aug. 24. According to police, Withers was seen stealing a wallet inside the Adelphi University library in Garden City on Tuesday, June 18. He allegedly used credit cards found in the wallet to make purchases at the Jamaica train station. Detectives said he also stole an Apple Air Pod valued at $250 from the campus’ University Center and stole credit …
Schools
Collision With School Bus Injures Girl, Mother On Long Island
A young girl and her mother were injured in a collision involving a school bus on Long Island. The incident happened in Roosevelt on West Greenwich Avenue shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15. Original report - Girl Hospitalized After Incident Involving Mini School Bus In Roosevelt Nassau County Police said a 10-year-old girl was riding her bicycle when she lost her balance and struck the side of a passing mini school bus traveling eastbound on West Greenwich Avenue. The child suffered severe abrasions on both of her legs, and her 40-year-old mother injured her right hand tryin…
Schools
Ex-Long Island Teacher Accused Of Sexually Abusing Students Photographed Third Victim, DA Says
A retired elementary school teacher on Long Island charged with sexually abusing two of his students is now accused of harming a third student. Thomas Bernagozzi, age 75, of Babylon, was arrested on sex crimes charges in December 2023 after an investigation by Suffolk County Police found that he sexually abused two male students between the 1980s and early 2000s while teaching third grade in the Bay Shore School District. At the time of the alleged abuse, the boys were third-grade students at Gardiner Manor Elementary School and Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School. Bernagozzi taught a…
Schools
Long Island Schools Received $600M From State Lottery Last Year
Lottery officials announced that Long Island schools received $600 million in the last fiscal year. A new report from the New York Lottery shows that of the $3.7 billion Lottery Aid to Education revenue raised yearly, Long Island schools received a pretty chunk of change. Between Nassau and Suffolk counties, the total amount of financial aid comes out to just under $600 million during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Of that, Nassau County schools received approximately $239 million, while Suffolk County schools got $359 million. The New York Lottery has contributed to state education since …
Schools
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…
Schools
Athletic Cuts, Bigger Class Sizes Loom After Voters Reject Long Island School Levy Increases
Teachers and parents in two Long Island school districts are bracing for major budget cuts after voters rejected a pair of tax levy increases. In Suffolk County, both the Sachem Central School District and the West Babylon School District fell short of the 60-percent supermajorities that were needed as the proposed budgets exceeded the tax cap. Final vote tallies Wednesday, May 22, showed 56-percent of voters backed West Babylon’s levy increase, while just 50.3-percent supported Sachem’s. Prior to Tuesday’s vote, the Sachem Central School District said the levy increase was needed to “pres…
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