New York State United Teachers launched a website Monday to track coronavirus-related health and safety concerns in schools across the state.
The website, https://www.nysutcovidtracker.org/, collects on the health and safety violations and concerns reported by staff member, parents and community members. It also includes a mapping tool with district-by-district information. Cases of Covid-19 are rising around the country and parts of New York State.
“A consistent flow of information about the safety of our schools is critical for educators, students and families, and this website is designed to help us all stay vigilant as the school year rolls on,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “Though we know some districts are working closely with their staffs to put health and safety first, problems still exist around the state. By empowering educators and community members to report their concerns, it’s our hope that we can elevate the voices of those who otherwise may go unheard.”
School Budget Timeline
The Huntington school board has approved the timeline for the 2021-2022 budget and trustee vote.
Residents will vote Tuesday, May 18.
Trustees have endorsed the following timeline:
- On or before March 1, 2021: Calculation of district tax levy submitted to the state comptroller.
- March 19, 2021: Last day for voter propositions to be placed on the ballot.
- April 19, 2021: Budget adoption by trustees.
- April 19, 2021: Nominating petitions due for trustee candidates.
- May 3, 2021: Hard copy of budget available to public in all buildings. (An electronic version of the adopted budget will be available on the district’s website on April 20, 2021.)
- May 10, 2021: Public hearing on budget.
- May 11, 2021: Deadline for receipt of absentee ballot applications if ballot is to be mailed to the voter;
- • May 12, 2021: Last voter registration day;
- May 13, 2021: Voter register available for public inspection; List of voters receiving absentee ballots available.
- May 17, 2021: Deadline for receipt of absentee ballot application if ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter.
- May 18, 2021: Annual meeting – budget vote and election; Board of Registration meets to register voters for the 2022 budget vote and election and all special district meetings.
Recognition by College Board
The College Board’s National Recognition Scholar Program honored five Cold Spring Harbor students who scored in the top 2.5% of PSAT/NMSQT test takers who identify as one or more of the following: African American, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, or attend school in a rural area, or are from a small town. The PSAT is taken in their Junior year of high school. Recognized were Julianne Massa, John ReyMartin, Sierra Rosado, Matthew Ross, and David Brown.
Harborfields, Elwood Students Helping With Food Needs
Students in Elwood and Harborfields are working to hellp alleviate hunger during the holiday season.
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School World Language Honor Society members recently partnered with Long Island Cares Inc. They volunteered to shop for meal baskets as part of the charity organization’s 2020 “Adopt-a-Family for Thanksgiving” program. Nonperishable food donations included canned vegetables and fruit, stuffing, potato and dessert mixes, as well as separately packaged gift cards to be used to purchase turkeys. The honor society was able to sponsor 12 families.
This event was organized by World Language Honor Society advisers, Nicole Correia and Nicole Gendjoian. The following seniors volunteered to shop, sort and deliver the donations to Long Island Cares in Huntington Station: Gabriella Aversa, Kerri Giambruno, Lauren Hoolahan, Brandon Lewis, Julia Mady-Aguiar, Emma Preiser, Daniel Rourke, Jack Schelin and Emma Voege.
HACO, or Harborfields’ Alliance for Community Outreach, is dedicated to providing families and their children with basic necessities of food, clothing and daily living essentials. HACO members created a flyer to raise funds and nonperishable food items for donation. Every $20 donated provides all of the “Thanksgiving fixings,” including baked breads, desserts, pies and cookies, to a family in need. In addition, Catherine Purcell’s high school mathematics class hosted a food drive. As of Nov. 3, the team has collected more than $1,000 in donations. The club hopes to reach its goal of providing more than 100 meals to Harborfields families this month.