The Smithtown Central School District Board of Education convened Nov. 12 to discuss a range of financial and legal matters, approve community donations and review correspondence submitted by residents.
During the meeting, the board approved financial reports totaling more than $110 million, which included treasurer’s reports, classroom expenses and other districtwide allocations.
The board also accepted a variety of donations aimed at enhancing school resources and community engagement. These included a $1,000 monetary gift from the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal, a commemorative bench valued at $2,300 from Smithtown East High School’s Class of 2024 and a $2,700 inflatable tunnel donated by Smithtown High School East’s gridiron club. Additionally, the board approved facility-use requests for several organizations, including FIRST Long Island, the Rotary Club of Smithtown and Backyard Pigskins, a youth flag football program.
Board of Education meetings are typically held at William J. Brosnan School. Photo credit GoogleMaps
By Peter Sloniewsky
The Northport-East Northport Union Free School District Board of Education met Nov. 7 at the William J. Brosnan Building to outline goals and review new proposals aimed at enriching student life and academic pathways.
Opening the public session, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dana Boshnack introduced a series of new course proposals designed to expand student opportunities. Among these were four career/technical education pathways: animation, photography, video/digital film and digital art. She also proposed an advanced engineering “capstone” course for seniors developed in partnership with Project Lead the Way and Rochester Institute of Technology. New social studies options including Humanity in Crisis and Modern Media Savvy aim to address global issues and media literacy skills essential in today’s world.
Following the course proposals, Boshnack and Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Support Services Louis Bonadonna provided a “comprehensive review” of student performance and improvement strategies. They outlined a framework for setting board priorities based on student success indicators and announced teams dedicated to supporting school improvement efforts. Their analysis included math and reading benchmarks tracked by the iReady program, state-standardized testing data for grades 3-8 and New York State Regents Exams. Collectively, the data confirmed that the district is effectively meeting state performance standards.
To conclude the meeting, the board addressed a state regionalization proposal. In New York, regionalization promotes collaboration among local superintendents to identify district strengths and needs with the goal of establishing advocacy priorities for state aid. This approach encourages resource sharing among districts, especially in areas with limited access to educational funding.
The Northport-East Northport BOE will meet again Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. with a public comment period at 7 p.m. at the William J. Brosnan Building.
Rebecca Kassay and NYS Assemblyman Ed Flood. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Peter Sloniewsky
In a recent debate at the TBR News Media office, New York State Assembly District 4 incumbent Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) and challenger Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) highlighted their concerns regarding affordability, personal experiences in local and statewide government and their varying views on some hot-button issues. District 4 comprises Stony Brook, Setauket, Old Field, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Belle Terre, Port Jefferson Station, Terryville, Coram and Gordon Heights.
Ed Flood
NYS Assemblyman Ed Flood
Incumbent Flood, a first-term assemblyman, previously worked as chief of staff to then-Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-Patchogue) and as assistant town attorney for the Town of Brookhaven and, until recent disbarment, ran his own law firm in Port Jefferson. In his opening statement, Flood, born in Port Jefferson Station, described a “mountain of extreme, high taxes” that he feels take away from the “dream” of Long Island life that inspired him to raise his family here. Flood’s platform largely revolves around his intention to “clamp down what we spend our money on,” and he casts himself as a vocal fiscal conservative in Albany.
Rebecca Kassay
Democratic challenger Kassay highlighted her experiences in local politics and as a small-business owner. Describing a need for “proactive public servants,” Kassay depicted her experiences working with environmental issues as indicative of her effectiveness in uniting layers of government. Moreover, as co-founder of The Fox and Owl Inn, a Port Jefferson small business, Kassay has cast herself as being in a unique position to understand local affordability issues. She served as a trustee of Port Jefferson Village from 2020, including a spell as deputy mayor, before dropping out this year to run for the Assembly.
Crime issues
Rebecca Kassay
Beyond his fiscal conservatism, Flood highlighted crime issues as a basis of his campaign. In addition to his opposition to bail reform passed in Albany, he made the claim that a decrease in overall crime has been counteracted with a general movement away from punishment for more petty crimes. Without punishment for such crimes, Flood argued, a small group of individuals are motivated to continue committing them. He also argued that the state Legislature is largely unresponsive to his concerns — that due to the Democratic legislative supermajority, Republican concerns over more controversial issues can go unheard and many processes of government can go on in secret.
This led into a major subject of the debate in governmental transparency. Kassay responded that she had been irritated with Flood’s purported narrative that crime had increased, but that she was willing to increase the number of opportunities for police to interface with legislators in Albany. Moreover, Kassay made a case that her more extensive local government experience had prepared her to better deal with such concerns, and that her platform was better suited to bring more voices to the table.
Flood’s disbarment as an attorney
This race includes controversy, as Flood was recently disbarred as an attorney. He claimed it was no fault on his part, and that he had almost entirely stopped practicing law due to his work in the Assembly, describing the timing of the process as “funny.” Kassay dissented from that description.
Candidate intentions
Both candidates presented themselves as largely concerned about affordability, but dissented in their perception of the current Democratic administration in Albany.
Flood claimed that “Albany has lost its way,” and presented himself as a vocal advocate for Republicans in state government. He said he was already positioned influentially on important committees and a willing bipartisan only interested in the public good.
Alternatively, Kassay emphasized her experience at the local levels of government and in community service, prioritizing better constituent service and looking forward to “greater results” than what she’s already accomplished.
Sarah Anker and NYS Sen. Anthony Palumbo. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Peter Sloniewsky
In their recent debate at the TBR News Media office, State Senate District 1 candidate Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) and incumbent Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) highlighted their diverse experiences, local and statewide issues, and emphasized their relatively moderate stances. Senate District 1 covers the East End towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island and Southold as well as part of eastern Brookhaven Town along the North Shore to Stony Brook.
Legislative service and issues
Sarah Anker is running for New York State SenateL District 1.
Firstly, Anker and Palumbo both spent time focusing on their history of legislative service. Anker served for 13 years as a Suffolk County legislator until she was term-limited. Beyond that, Anker emphasized that she had been, and still is, an active citizen, describing herself as a “community advocate.” This background supported Anker’s enthusiasm for hyper-local issues, which have highlighted her time as a county legislator.
Correspondingly, Anker’s platform is based upon local issues. Stating that, “The most important part of being a legislator is the needs of your constituents,” Anker spoke extensively on issues like traffic safety and water management, often with specific examples and detailed background. She also focused on solving the opioid crisis on Long Island.
Palumbo served as a Suffolk County assistant DA before being elected state assemblyman 2013-20. Palumbo is the Republican Deputy Floor Leader in the New York State Senate alongside his roles as the ranking member of the Codes and Judiciary Committees. Palumbo’s platform was largely based in state politics considering his extensive time there, and he took note to emphasize his highly productive track record in office.
Palumbo’s platform is largely defined by pro-taxpayer policies and fiscal conservatism in opposition to government wastefulness. Additionally, in line with his stances on property tax issues across Long Island, he spoke about support for new homebuyers from the state. A centerpiece of his platform, however, is his support for criminal-justice reform on the state level — Palumbo is strictly opposed to bail reform and views it as a misguided Democratic agenda item.
Staller development at Port Jefferson Station
New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo
Both candidates also discussed the Staller proposal for Port Jefferson Station development in different terms. Anker stated she felt that the community had been under involved in the process — that “we want more people to come and stay here,” but that the proposed buildings were obtrusive and it was most important to preserve the suburban character of the area.
Alternatively, Palumbo thought that Staller should receive the benefit of the doubt as a multigenerational, experienced developer. He framed the question simply: “We’re really asking what the state can do — the state can stay out of it.” Additionally, to him, debate over the project was emblematic of wider issues in New York’s focus on tenant-centered policy.
Political moderation
Despite these differences, the candidates agreed on most issues and spent time emphasizing their relative political moderation. Anker noted that Palumbo’s mailers cast her as a progressive while she self-describes as “one of the most moderate and fiscal-conservative Democrats you can find,” with experience winning “seven times as a Democrat in one of the most Republican districts out of the legislative districts in Suffolk County.” Moreover,
Palumbo focused on what he depicted as commonsense issues which are more moderate than his widely-assumed agenda as a Republican.
Long Island school costs
Both candidates also advocated for a reexamination of Long Island school costs. Palumbo advocated for consolidation, and claimed that immigrants were taking advantage of public schools. However, the center of his point was that he would look to reduce an “abundance of administration and staff while not compromising the education of the kids.” Anker also advocated to reexamine administrative pay, and claimed she was looking into an “alternative” way of funding schools to lessen the strain on homeowners.
Criticisms and consensus
Both candidates took a few digs at their opponent. Palumbo attacked Anker’s record as a “full-time legislator,” claiming that she reported income from two independent business ventures while also a legislator — a claim that she did not directly respond to. He also criticized what Anker described as her proudest legislative achievement — a hotline for school shootings instituted after the Sandy Hook attack — as an “unfunded mandate” that doesn’t solve any parts of the underlying issue.
Anker criticized Palumbo’s track record as not being local enough. She pointed at his policy proposal for a community preservation fund as something that had already been attempted in the Town of Brookhaven, and used his efforts on a bill to assist the Montauk Native Americans to describe him as lacking focus, even as Palumbo called himself “a Brookhaven guy.”
Overall, both candidates reached consensus on a good number of issues but found room to criticize each other on lines beyond their partisan differences.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting is still available through Sunday, Nov. 3. See www.suffolkcountyny.gov for Suffolk County locations and times.
NYS Senator Mattera (left) and challenger Craig Herskowitz (right) met at the TBR News Media office to discuss topics related to State Senate District 2. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Peter Sloniewsky
In their recent meeting at the TBR News Media office, New York State Senate incumbent Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and challenger Craig Herskowitz (D) clashed largely over issues of criminal justice reform and immigration while also emphasizing their relative comradery.
NYS Senator Mario Mattera
Mattera is running for his third term in State Senate District 2, which covers Smithtown, Huntington, Northport, Commack and Melville. He presents himself with a deeply local focus, having been a union leader and plumber prior to his time in public service. He describes his tenure in Albany as being “vocal” on the Senate Energy and Telecommunications, Labor and Transportation committees, as well as emphasizing a focus on environmental issues like carbon capture technologies.
Herskowitz, born in Huntington and raised in Northport, is not a stranger to public service either. After working on Capitol Hill and later attending law school, he worked on narcotics and drug issues for the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division before joining JPMorgan Chase. Throughout the COVID pandemic, Herskowitz worked in crisis management. Prior to running for office, he was a New York City administrative law judge but has since resigned.
The main point of their discussion was largely centered around bail reform legislation passed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). Mattera drew on his endorsements from law enforcement across Suffolk County and listed a number of alleged local and national cases of bail reform leading to additional crime, attributing a perceived rise in crime rates to such reform.
Craig Herskowitz
Alternatively, Herskowitz emphasized his personal experience in criminal justice work to dismiss Mattera’s rhetoric as a “lot of fear tactics.” He suggested that the state alternatively invest in mental health resources, to which he attributed most failures to appear in court. He added that bail reform has been a benefit and would not be repealed in any way that the Republicans would hope for. That being said, Herskowitz did acknowledge a weakness in Democratic messaging on the subject.
Mattera also established concerns with the treatment of illegal immigrants in New York state and in New York City, referring to them as a “sanctuary state” and “sanctuary city.” He cited financial statistics meant to emphasize the heavy expenditure of both levels of government on such migrants and drew on his past experience as a union leader to say that “if we need people in the workforce … there’s a reason we have green cards.”
However, Herskowitz emphasized that most illegal immigrants simply overstay visas and that demonizing migrants coming here for a better life is a “nonstarter.” He added that most migrants are honest people and that immigrant labor has been a huge boost to the economy. He also pointed out that it’s a largely federal issue and that the main stoppage has been on the Republican end.
Both candidates, however, agreed that Long Island and New York as a whole require more federal funding. Mattera especially emphasized the importance of Foundation Aid for education and his own efforts in preserving it.
In a welcome relief from divisive political climates, both candidates concluded the debate with positive words about one another. Herskowitz said that he respected Mattera’s work as a labor leader, while Mattera said that “when I win, I’m going to take him out to lunch.”
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting is still available through Sunday, Nov. 3. See www.suffolkcountyny.gov for Suffolk County locations and times.
The Port Jefferson Board of Education held its regular meeting on Oct. 8 to discuss a number of matters. The agenda included various actions and reports, including a variety of personnel decisions, policy updates and financial resolutions.
Among the important personnel actions, the board reapproved a student-teaching affiliation agreement with St. Joseph’s University for the upcoming school year. Several instructional substitute personnel were also appointed and rescinded, alongside teachers assistants. Concluding the board’s personnel actions, teachers Victoria Damm and Jeanette Garofola were appointed as advisers for the high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance and freshman class respectively.
On the financial side, the board ratified tax levies in the sum of approximately $39.8 million for the district alongside $3.4 million for the library in this upcoming school year. The district budget was also increased by $200,000 to cover damages from recent flooding. This portion of the meeting concluded with approval for a number of financial reports from the month of June.
The board also moved to approve policy changes to the district’s nondiscrimination policy for a first reading. These preliminary changes, entitled Policy 0100, would enable the district to follow the New York State Department of Education’s guidelines on creating a “safe, supportive and affirming school environment for transgender and gender-expansive students.”
During the reports portion of the meeting, Edna Louise Elementary Principal Amy Laverty gave a brief presentation on the school. Additionally, the board opened the meeting with resolutions recognizing recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, as well as recognition for some administrative staff in the district.
The meeting concluded with a review of surplus items and welcoming of public comment. The board will reconvene for a work session on Oct. 22 and then again for a regular business meeting on Nov. 12.
On Sept. 19, the Smithtown Town Board met to discuss a variety of matters.
Key highlights included the appointment of a new town historian, preparations for a November 5K charity event and a number of transfers and bids aimed at improving town services.
The meeting opened with the appointment of Richard Smith as town historian, along with the establishment of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 5K. The event will take place on Nov. 9 with a rain date of Nov. 23.
The board also advertised a hearing to be held on Nov. 5 to discuss amendments to the zoning portion of the town code.
The bulk of the meeting focused on several resolutions involving the town’s budget and financial management. The board approved a variety of transfers between accounts involving work in the Recreation, Highways, and Public Works departments. One notable resolution, RES-2024-887, involved the transfer of more than $20,000 stemming from several accounts, for recreational services, specifically, with regards to public pools.
The board then moved to approve a number of bids. After announcing open bidding for urban-forestry services, bids for animal shelter supplies and screened sand for ice and snow control were awarded to local contractors. Additionally, the TOS accepted a bid of $42,800 for repairs to the Smithtown Boat Ramp, and a purchase order for $115,795, to repair the town hall elevator.
Moreover, the Highway Superintendent was authorized to work with National Grid regarding the Commack Gas Replacement Project, involving the replacement of gas pipelines.
The meeting concluded with a number of appointments and reappointments.
Harborfields Central School District Board of Education met Wednesday, Sept. 18 to address a wide-ranging number of agenda items.
Superintendent Rory Manning and President Susan Broderick at the Harborfields Central School District Board of Education meeting. –Photo courtesy the Harborfields Central School District livestream
First, the board was presented with a capital bond update detailing a number of projects the district has planned through the summer of 2026. The plan, broken up into three phases, began in January with the design phase, which will continue in this period until May.
Construction in this first phase includes roof replacement and repair and replacement of the outdoor track at Harborfields High School, alongside a number of similar changes made across the district around October. Construction will continue through the summer of 2025.
Phase 2 will run from June 2024 to spring 2026, and Phase 3 from October 2024 to summer 2026. These projects include air conditioning installation at the high school, repairs to outdoor facilities such as basketball and tennis courts, and “general classroom enhancements” across the district.
Beyond this presentation, the board approved a variety of financial documentation and human resources work. The board also elected its voting delegate to the New York State School Boards Association convention, namely BOE member — and Suffolk County Legislature candidate — Dr. Eve Meltzer-Krief.
Finally, the board approved the implementation of two new educational programs: Individualized Education Programming and the Marketing Pathway Career and Technical Education program.
The board will meet again Oct. 16 at 7:45 p.m. at Oldfield Middle School.
Middle Country Central School District Board of Education met Sept. 10 at a special meeting to discuss a range of agenda items centered around a food-services presentation.
This presentation, given on behalf of the district’s food service team, began with a review of the mission statement, staff and partnership details with Whitsons Culinary Group of Islandia. The presenters then spoke about eligibility for free and reduced-price school lunches. The district is approved to serve no-charge breakfast and lunch meals daily for the upcoming school year but encourages households to fill out the Household Income Eligibility Form to qualify for such programs in the future.
The presentation covered a recent history of financial and sales data, which reflected a recent trend of budget surplus. According to the presenters, this positive funds balance was used entirely to enhance the school lunch program, exemplified by the purchase of a large replacement oven and the completion of a freezer project during the past school year.
The presenters then conveyed their plans for the future. The team has been pushing the Household Income Eligibility Form and plans to continue advocacy for free meals. They also listed some concerns with the rising costs of running such an operation, the continual push for grant money and issues with staff retention, before concluding with a more thorough push for universal free meals.
After the presentation, a number of routine items were addressed. Board President Dawn Sharrock was approved to act as the voting delegate for the district at the New York State School Board Association Virtual Annual Business Meeting Oct. 10, and in New York City at the Annual Convention and Education Expo Oct. 20-22. The board also approved a major field trip to Washington, D.C.
The next BOE meeting will be Oct. 16 at Centereach High School at 7 p.m.
Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023
By Peter Sloniewsky
Village of Port Jefferson trustee Kyle Hill authored an open comment letter Sept. 6 to the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany expressing “our concern regarding any proposed amendments to the New York State Foundation Aid formula that may lead to reductions in funding for the Port Jefferson School District.”
The letter was co-signed by all of the village trustees with the exception of Mayor Lauren Sheprow.
The Foundation Aid formula, enacted in 2007, is used by New York State to allocate a large portion of its education resources to school districts. Its calculations are based on a variety of different factors such as local contributions, student demographics and enrollment, and was used in the 2024-25 fiscal year to allocate more than $24.9 billion of the state’s $35.9 billion education funding package.
As the current formula incorporates old data and statistics, researchers at the Rockefeller Institute are in the early stages of a study to rewrite the formula. This study was sanctioned in April’s state budget by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and legislative leaders in coordination with the state Education Department.
The existing formula contains a caveat that the state cannot provide less Foundation Aid than it did the year prior, regardless of changing factors. In practice, this means that school districts like Port Jefferson — with low or declining enrollment — would benefit.
In the last state budget negotiations, Hochul recommended that this rule, entitled the “hold harmless” provision, be cut. As a result of this hypothetical cut, which was rejected by the Legislature, Port Jefferson schools would have suffered a massive 28% cut to their Foundation Aid.
The Rockefeller Institute study will be presented to the governor and Legislature once completed.
As Hill wrote in the trustees letter, “When Long Island schools like Port Jefferson School District, do not receive adequate funding from Albany, it further agitates the preexisting pressure on municipalities like ours to hold the line on taxes as the cost of living has become unmanageable for far too many of our constituents.”
Hill also noted that the Long Island region receives less in state funding than in other areas, such as transportation and infrastructure.
According to Port Jeff Board of Education President Ellen Boehm, “The numbers are skewed due to a few high-wealth residents in a small geographic area. … Our participation rate [in reduced lunch benefit programs] has grown. … This proves that we have residents that are facing economic hardships.”
In Port Jefferson schools specifically, Foundation Aid makes up approximately 6 percent of the total budget — a modest but important percentage, especially considering the area’s high taxation rate, large special-education program and increasing volume of English as a New Language students.
Boehm and Hill alike do not deny that the state’s Foundation Aid formula has flaws.
The BOE president told TBR, “The formula the state currently uses simply needs to be reconsidered — not just the ‘hold harmless’ clause. … The overall cost of operating [on Long Island] is just far higher than in other areas of the state and should also be taken into consideration.”
In a press release, Hill said, “Albany continues to look at Long Island like its piggy bank.” He also reminded policymakers that “Long Island sends more revenue to Albany than it gets back, and local villages and towns have to pick up the slack.”
Hill added in the trustees letter that the discussion of equitable school funding “should be in the broader context of how resources are allocated across New York state.”
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