December 11, 2024

Dear GNPS Community,

Happy holiday season to all.  As you are aware, the GNPS Administration and Board of Education have been closely monitoring all aspects of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Regionalization planning.  Please recall that all relevant information regarding this initiative can be found on the district’s website linked here. 

At tonight’s public meeting of the Board of Education (7:30 p.m. at E.M. Baker Elementary Auditorium), it is anticipated that the Board of Education will take action to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, on September 9, 2024, the New York State Board of Regents approved, by emergency adoption, the addition of Part 124 and Subpart 124-2 to Subchapter E of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to regionalization plans (“Regionalization Regulations”); and

WHEREAS, at its December 9, 2024 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents approved the Regionalization Regulations for final adoption, as amended (“the Amended Regionalization Regulations”); and

WHEREAS, the Amended Regionalization Regulations added a new Section 124-2.8 titled  “Non-Participation” which provides a mechanism for a school district to elect not to participate in the development of a regionalization plan by notifying the New York State Education Department’s Office of Education Policy of such election, in writing, by no later than January 15, 2025, and every ten years thereafter; and

WHEREAS, at the December 9th Board of Regents meeting, the New York State Education Department representatives further asserted that notification electing not to participate under the Amended Regionalization Regulations constitutes an opt-out of the regionalization process without penalty, including the development and implementation of a regionalization plan; and

WHEREAS, the Great Neck Union Free School District strongly opposes any initiative that jeopardizes local control of our schools, or redistributes taxpayer dollars and resources to other jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the forced acceptance of students from other districts or directed partnerships with other schools do not serve the needs of our community; and

WHEREAS, the maintenance of complete and total local control of all district operations is of paramount importance to the Board of Education and Administration, and in the best interests of the Great Neck School community; and

WHEREAS, upon due consideration of the Amended Regionalization Regulations, the Great Neck Union Free School District will not participate in the development of a regionalization plan or any aspect of a regionalization plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in accordance with the foregoing, the Great Neck Union Free School District exercises its election not to participate in the development of a regionalization plan or any aspect of such plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Schools shall provide written notification of said election to not participate in a regionalization plan to the New York State Department’s Office of Education Policy prior to January 15, 2025.   

 

In short, what this means is that the Board of Education and Administration of GNPS will notify NYSED of our intention to opt-out of all aspects of the Regionalization initiative.  Our collective desire to maintain local control and do what is best for this community remains steadfast.  A letter, from my office, will be sent to the Commissioner of Education well ahead of the January 15, 2025 deadline to notify officials of this decision. 

We appreciate all members of the community who have taken the time to remain informed on this and other important matters that impact our school community.  We thank those who have communicated concerns, questions and comments on this topic over the last several weeks.  Please enjoy the remaining school days prior to our holiday break.

Warm Regards,

Kenneth Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools