Newsline

Service, Support & Advocacy

March

2026

Our Executive Committee

Our Calendar of Events

Contact Our N-SSBA Staff

Bob Vecchio

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Executive Director's Message

Spring is upon us, and to be honest it couldn't have come quick enough after a long, cold, snowy winter. I always look forward to the warmer weather knowing summer is right around the corner and before you know it, we will be complaining about the heat!

This year, the budget will be late which makes planning for our districts a little tricky, however, the hold ups on the budget do not seem to be centered on education funding.

Everything we have heard seems to point that the guaranteed minimum increase will more than likely go up from the 1% that the Governor proposed to 2%. While this is welcomed, for many districts it will not make a material difference in the decisions that are being made on budgets across Long Island.

We are starting to see the long term impacts of living in a sustained inflationary environment that has far outpaced the financial resources districts have been receiving with either state aid or local resources with the property tax cap.

We are seeing more districts making reductions to staff and programs to close the budget gaps and several districts will be attempting to pierce the tax cap. We had a few districts that their tax cap started at a negative which means they would need a supermajority just to get to a 0% increase. This continues to be an advocacy issue for us as we don't believe this was ever the intention of the tax cap law when first enacted.

Transportation and health insurance costs continue to climb at double digit percentage increases while shifts in enrollment demographics with increases in special education classifications continue to place strain on local budgets.

This year as in every year, it's important to know your local story so you can tell and sell your local story to your school community and your local elected officials.

Legislative changes to the zero emission bus mandate needs to happen, we need to pay attention to the potential changes that are being discussed with Tier 6 and the financial implications that will have on future budgets.

We need to continue to communicate to our State officials the impact that charter schools are having on our school communities. We need our budgets approved every year by our voters, yet over $500 million dollars goes to charter schools without a single community taxpayer vote!

There is much more work to be done in the months ahead, and advocacy doesn't stop after the State passes a budget, it continues all year long.

We will continue the advocacy efforts as outlined by the priorities all of you have supported and we will pay attention to new issues that come up. We will continue to email action alerts and post news article on our Facebook page to keep you informed.

In the meantime, we hope that you have a chance to get out, enjoy the springtime and gear up for the last quarter of the school year!

N-SSBA Invited to a Luncheon with NYSED

Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa

N-SSBA was recently invited to attend a luncheon with Dr. Betty Rosa at the Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Center. A presentation by YES Community Counseling highlighted the amazing work they are doing with school aged children regarding career exploration with programs that elementary students attend.

The lunch was prepared and served by the culinary students at Barry Tech and they did an amazing job. Students from a variety of CTE programs offered by Nassau BOCES were also part of the luncheon as they discussed the programs that they are involved in and the impact that it has made on them.

N-SSBA had the opportunity to discuss some legislative priorities with the Commissioner, especially in the area of regulatory reforms. Special thanks to David Frank, Assistant Commissioner for inviting us to this meeting.

Pictured here: Steve Gellar N-SSBA Secretary/Treasurer (Little Flower), Bob Vecchio N-SSBA Executive Director, Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner NYSED,

Felicia Thomas-Williams NYS Regent, Larry Greenstein, N-SSBA President (Nassau BOCES), Jeanne D'Esposito, Esq. N-SSBA Nassau Vice-President (Malverne) &

Lorraine Mentz N-SSBA Administrative Director (William Floyd)

N-SSBA Out & About

Below is a listing of meetings and events that N-SSBA attended and participated in:

3/1-3/3 – Attended the annual NYSCOSS Winter Institute
3/6 – Attended the annual REFIT Legislative Breakfast
3/9 – Recorded radio shows with the Bayport Blue Point School District
3/10 – Attended the BOE meeting for the Islip School District
3/11 – Attended the monthly LIEC meeting
3/12-3/15 – Attended the national conference for the Coalition of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA)
3/16 – Attended the annual LIA regional breakfast “What’s New in Washington” Woodbury, NY
3/16 – Recorded radio shows with the Malverne, Riverhead, and Wantagh School Districts
3/17 – Recorded radio shows with the Valley Stream 30 SD and LI School of the Arts (Nassau BOCES)
3/18 – Luncheon meeting with Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa of NYSED
3/18 – Hosted a fiscal governance workshop for east end districts
3/19 – Attended the budget presentation for HWCLI
3/19 – Attended the monthly N-SSBA Executive Committee meeting, WS BOCES, Dix Hills, NY
3/23 – SCOPE Annual Awards Dinner
3/25 - Virtual meeting with the Assistant to the NYSED Commissioner, David Frank
3/26 - Virtual meeting with the Distinguished Awards Committee
3/30 - Recorded radio shows with the Baldwin & Garden City School Districts
3/31 - Recorded radio show with the Valley Stream 30 School District

Spotlight On

Long Island Schools

Radio Shows

Click on the links below to hear the shows that aired this month.

Want to have your district on the radio?

email us at

info@nss ba.org

to schedule a date

Manhasset SD

Smithtown SD

Bayport Blue Point SD

Nassau BOCES & Marty Lyons Foundation

Congratulations to the 2026 SCOPE School Board Service Award Winners!

N-SSBA's Executive Director Honored by SCOPE

Register Today!

New York School Breakfast Panel

on April 21

What: Build A Stronger Breakfast Program with Universal Free School Meals

When: Tuesday, April 21, 1-2 PM

Where: Virtually via Zoom

Learn ways of reaching more students with school breakfast now that New York’s Universal Free School Meals program is in place. This panel co-hosted with No Kid Hungry New York will feature a discussion with school nutrition leaders Lauren Kearley of Huntington Union Free School District and Kyle Mattler of Taconic Hills Central School District. We’ll cover different breakfast service approaches and considerations for implementation, along with strategies to build buy-in among school leaders. Whether your school is looking to strengthen an existing breakfast program or explore new approaches, this session will highlight real examples to help take the next step.

Can’t make it? Register anyway to receive the slide deck and recording.

This Month's ICYMI

Herricks Middle School empowers students through Sweethearts & Heroes HOPE Program

Herricks Middle School students and staff took center stage on March 9 as they partnered with Sweethearts & Heroes for a transformative day focused on HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist), empathy, resilience, and student leadership. The program delivered powerful messaging that aligned with Herricks Middle School’s commitment to fostering a supportive, connected and action‑driven school culture.

Throughout the visit, students engaged with presenters Tom Murphy and Sgt. Rick Yarosh, whose dynamic assembly encouraged them to recognize their ability to positively influence others. The school embraced the program’s emphasis on emotional well‑being, meaningful human connection and practical ways to demonstrate empathy and compassion.

Murphy and Yarosh also introduced students to Circle, an ancient communication practice used to build trust, understanding and belonging. Herricks students participated enthusiastically, reflecting the school’s openness to learning new skills that strengthen peer relationships.

“Middle school is such a pivotal and often turbulent time for young adolescents and the way you approach the topics of hope, resilience and action is nothing short of transformative,” said Brian McConaghy, principal of Herricks Middle School. “This wasn’t just another assembly; it was a message rooted in empathy. We will continue to teach our students how to be the heroes of their own stories.”

Brentwood AFJROTC cadets shine during annual inspection

Brentwood High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets participated in their annual unit inspection and assessment March 11, welcoming Regional Director James Garcia of AFJROTC Region 4, who traveled from Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. to conduct the evaluation.

The visit is part of the program’s formal evaluation process, during which regional leadership reviews the cadets’ operations, leadership structure and program performance.

Throughout the day, cadets demonstrated drill procedures, presented an overview of their program and responded to questions about their leadership roles, community involvement and the responsibilities associated with running the unit. The inspection also included a review of program documentation and cadet knowledge.

Garcia, who inspects AFJROTC programs across the tri-state area, praised Brentwood’s cadets and leadership during the visit. “This is always one of my favorite schools to visit,” Garcia said at the conclusion of the inspection.

Brentwood’s AFJROTC program is designed to develop leadership skills, discipline, teamwork and civic responsibility among students while introducing them to opportunities connected to military and public service careers.

The program’s advisers are SMSgt. Wayne Hanna and MSgt. Armando Perez – both of whom were named Outstanding Instructors by the U.S. Air Force in 2025.

Army medics bring field medicine lessons to East Rockaway High School

On March 18, students in East Rockaway High School's health and EMT classes had the opportunity to learn life-saving skills from three visiting U.S. Army medics.

The hands-on session gave students practical experience with basic trauma first aid techniques used in emergency situations in the field.

During the visit, students learned several essential trauma response skills, including how to apply a tourniquet, pack wounds and conduct a full body scan to assess injuries.

The medics guided students through each technique, offering the kind of real-world expertise that goes beyond the classroom.

Beyond the practical lessons, the medics took time to answer students' questions about careers in the medical field and what life in the Army is like.

They also shared valuable information about the pathways available through military service, including opportunities to have college tuition covered in exchange for service and highlighted the wide range of medical specialties and roles accessible through the Army.

The visit offered students a compelling look at how health and emergency medicine training can translate into a meaningful military career, while equipping them with foundational skills that could make a difference in any emergency.