October 28, 2024

Dear GNPS Community,

I hope this correspondence finds you well.  It has been brought to my attention from some concerned residents that information related to a New York State Education Department (NYSED) initiative called "Regionalization" has been shared widely on social media and has, understandably, created some concern within the GNPS community.  It is important to note that the document circulating was not created by NYSED, BOCES, or any district official. 

Nassau BOCES has also become aware of these social media posts.  While this is an initiative from NYSED, it will be led by each regional BOCES (in our case Nassau BOCES) and they are best equipped to address the matter directly.  On Friday afternoon, every Long Island Superintendent and School Board President received a letter drafted by the District Superintendents of the Nassau, Western Suffolk and Eastern Suffolk BOCES (which was vetted by NYSED) that stated the following:

This communication is necessary in light of recent social media posts and flyers suggesting that the goal of the initiative is to cede control of Long Island’s schools to the BOCES. That is patently false and would require the adoption of legislation radically changing over one hundred years of law. To be clear: this initiative is simply about fostering informed local decision making, partnerships, and support for individual districts – with the goal of ensuring that students have access to the educational opportunities they need for success in school and beyond. The initiative will provide a platform for local education leaders to discuss and convey to NYSED the strategies and actions they will take to ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students, and the resources they will need to achieve this goal. It will also create a direct line for individual and cooperating local districts to provide input as the State develops its legislative and budget priorities. Schools and districts may also use these planning conversations to identify and explore existing opportunities within the region.

While every public school district is required to work in partnership with NYSED and the BOCES in their region, I can assure you that my first priority is to offer the best possible educational opportunities to the students within the Great Neck Public Schools.  Having now attended several meetings regarding the NYSED Regionalization Study, I believe that the initiative is intended to benefit underperforming schools as well as schools who are struggling to secure the resources necessary to meet with success.  New York is a very large, diverse state and this study is a state-wide initiative.  The challenges we face in Great Neck are different from some of our rural communities in Western New York (as an example).  In one recent informational session, the work GNPS is engaged in to support anti-hate initiatives was used as an example of intellectual sharing that could assist other districts looking to implement similar programs. 

The current requirement regarding regionalization for GNPS is to complete a survey developed by NYSED.  Within the survey, we will share our successes and identify any challenges that either current funding, legislation or regulations have raised.  I do not anticipate any large scale impact to our operations (if any at all) based on the data collecting requirement.  There has been no call (or even suggestion) of combining/merging with other districts, sharing our human or financial resources or anything of that nature (as a small number of parents have reached out to inquire about). 

Detailed information regarding this NYSED initiative can be found via their website HERE.

As with other matters, I will continue to keep the Board of Education and community informed of any developments.  I have been asked by the Board to provide an update regarding NYSED’s Regionalization study at the upcoming November 13 meeting (7:45 p.m. at E.M. Baker Elementary’s Auditorium). 

I hope the beginning portion of the school year has brought much joy and opportunity for celebration to your homes and families.  As we move forward through the remainder of our school year, I am quite certain additional opportunities will be plentiful throughout GNPS!

Sincerely,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools