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New York State education initiative to expand student learning opportunities draws fire on Long Island

Pabio November 22, 2024

MINEOLA, Nassau County (WABC) — An initiative by the New York State Department of Education aims to expand and ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for Long Island students, but while some districts and parents welcome the idea with open arms, others disagree.

Parents gathered at a news conference in Mineola on Thursday, armed with signs comparing the state’s new plan to “theft.”

“It’s like the Communist Party. The Communist Party of New York State,” said Manhasset parent Jennifer Zhang.

The backlash came from parents in Long Island school districts who said they didn’t like a new state initiative that could regionalize some aspects of their children’s public education. They say this shouldn’t be about politics, but the tone suggested otherwise.

“This is just another attack on the suburbs by New York State government, completely controlled by progressive, left-wing politicians,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

The goal of the initiative is primarily to maximize resources and limit costs for certain districts, and according to the association that represents more than 100 districts on Long Island, some support it and others oppose it.

“Some districts are supportive of it, others are concerned about it and are kind of waiting to see how things develop, especially at the next Board of Regents meeting in December,” said Robert Vecchio of Nassau Suffolk School. Board of Directors Association.

However, no one wants forced collaboration, and some school districts joined the Nassau County Executive on Thursday, saying they plan to seek an injunction and won’t stop fighting until the plan is more clearly designated as optional.

“We continually ask: Can you please put on the record that this is voluntary and no penalty? And no one will do that in Albany,” Cold Spring Harbor Superintendent Joe Monastero said.

Jeff Matteson of the New York State Department of Education said it was a local decision.

“Everything that’s in a plan sent to the state has to be an idea coming from that district,” Matteson said.

Many people who have moved from the city to Long Island with children say the main reason is the schools. They plan to fight hard to maintain this control.

“I’m afraid of the potential pooling of resources in such a way that it would take away and distract from my child’s education,” said East Williston parent Ellie Konstantatos.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul weighed in on the initiative, saying she did not create the plan and has no oversight of it.

“The truth is that this plan comes directly from the Board of Regents, whose appointments are all made by the state legislature, not the governor. Rather than holding fake press conferences or spreading false rumors , these politicians should consider actually doing their job in overseeing the state Department of Education,” the governor said in the statement.

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