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Service, Support & Advocacy

September

2025
Our Executive Committee
Our Calendar of Events
Contact Our N-SSBA Staff
 

Bob Vecchio


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Executive Director's Message


Good Governance Matters


Wishing everyone a “Happy New Year” as we have re-opened our doors with new hopes, dreams, and goals. While our summers are too short, I always look forward to the start of a new school year as it was always a renewed sense of purpose. 


For the nearly 410,000 students we serve, it’s a new year of firsts for them even if it isn’t for us. It’s through this lens that I always reminded myself why our service matters.


Sadly, we have also had reminders of the challenges we are facing everyday in our world. The new year came with the news of more school shootings across our country. 


Also, political violence has once again taken center stage. These terrible events serve as a reminder to me why good governance, and respectful healthy discourse matter. 


To this end, I think it is incumbent upon all of us to commit our teams to model good governance and respectful dialog. Let's not just make it what we do, but make it the culture of who we are always.


Now more than ever with student board representatives at our table, we need this to be a priority. We need to show the next generation what exactly good governance looks like and how it operates. We need to train ourselves to accomplish this. Words matter, actions matter, servant leadership matters. 


We must commit to building on common ground as opposed to highlighting our differences. We must be laser focused on what we say and how we treat each other for the advancement of our mission in delivering high quality education to the communities we serve. 


Respect and kindness need to replace disrespect and vitriol. We must commit to servant leadership, because for us it's about the children, period. 


I believe opportunity and yes, responsibility does begin with us, and if not us who? I love the saying “It’s better to light one candle than curse the darkness.” 


Let’s commit to each of our boards and governance teams to being that candle in our community, especially when confronted with adversity and discourse. Let’s learn to disagree with dignity and remember good governance matters. 


On Long Island we have nearly 410,000 reasons why we have to get it right.

N-SSBA's Executive Director was a guest panelist for the League of Women's Voters in Wainscott and met the Southampton Student BOE representatives, along with NYS Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavonni, and Southampton Board of Education members Monique Proctor and Germain Smith.
 


  • January 22, 2026 - Annual Joint Conference w/ NCCSS & SCSSA Hilton Long Island/ Huntington, Melville


N-SSBA Out & About


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



  • 9/4 – Attended a virtual meeting with the Long Island Jewish Coalition
  • 9/6 – Attended virtual workshop “Skills for Disagreeing Better”
  • 9/9 – Attended the annual summer event for the Health & Welfare Council LI, Piermont, Babylon
  • 9/10 – Attended the monthly meeting of the LIEC
  • 9/10 – Attended the annual summer networking event of the LIA, Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury
  • 9/16 – Attended a press conference on Handle with Care @ Huntington Middle School
  • 9/17 – Attended the online webinar hosted by NYSED & NYSSBA for new student school board members
  • 9/22 – Recorded a radio show with the Glen Cove School District
  • 9/22 – Recorded  a radio show with a community mental health provider about school based services
  • 9/25 – Attended  the virtual advocacy meeting hosted by NYSSBA with Congressman Suozzi
  • 9/27-9/30 – Attended the NYSCOSS Annual Fall Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY
 

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@nssba.org

to schedule a date
AJC LI
Ronald McDonald House Charities
N-SSBA on 1010 WINS News
N-SSBA on Jay Oliver in the A.M.

N-SSBA Annual Resolutions Dinner

The Annual Resolutions Dinner Meeting was once again well attended with over 140 people and 42 districts in attendance. Led by N-SBBA's legislative chairperson and Middle Country School District Board of Education President, Dawn Sharrock, 3 by-law amendments and 34 resolutions were reviewed and discussed by the attendees.


We want thank our sponsors SCOPE Education Services and LanRover and our long term sponsor Mark Design Studios MDS for their support of N-SSBA.


We want to thank all of the attendees for coming out and expressing their views on the various proposals, whether we agreed or disagreed, we did it with dignity and efficiency which reflects the high quality of governance we see in our Boards of Education on Long Island.


We also want to thank NYSSBA's Chief Advocacy Officer, Mr. Brian Fessler for attending our event and updating us the process for the annual business meeting and the upcoming convention in New York City. For more information about these events check out the NYSSBA website.

Manufacturing Day 2025

This month's ICYMI

Wyandanch School District celebrates groundbreaking for early childhood education center

 

The Wyandanch Union Free School District officially broke ground on its new Early Childhood Education Center on Sept. 18, a long-awaited facility that will bring the district’s youngest learners a new home in September 2027.



The groundbreaking is a milestone in the district’s commitment to providing early learning opportunities and building a foundation for future success of its scholars.


Superintendent Dr. Wright reflected on his own career beginnings in early childhood education. “I stand before you today as the proud superintendent of the Wyandanch School District,” he said. “With this building, our students will be welcomed, validated and affirmed the moment they step through this state-of-the-art facility. This facility will allow our students to find themselves and build a strong academic foundation for years of success.”

 Lindenhurst School District Opens New UPK Center


The Lindenhurst Union Free School District officially opened the doors to its new, Pre-Kindergarten Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony, held at the repurposed Kellum Street School—now the Kellum UPK Center.


The center houses 21 classrooms for the District’s roughly 291 pre-K students, ensuring a consistent, high-quality educational experience for its youngest learners.

The event was attended by Lindenhurst School District administrators, Board of Education members, and partners from the District’s Just Kids partners.



“This facility gives us the opportunity to streamline curriculum and instruction, and provide early intervention supports for all of our youngest learners here in Lindenhurst,” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Kimberly Boccanfuso. “It is an investment we know will serve generations of students to come.”

Center Moriches High School Earns National Recognition for Unified Sports


Center Moriches High School, a Unified Champion School, has earned national banner recognition from Special Olympics North America.

This distinction marks the highest level of achievement for Unified Champion Schools in the country, recognizing excellence and leadership in creating inclusive school communities.


Center Moriches has also been represented at New York Special Olympics’ Long Island Spring Games for 13 consecutive years.



Student leaders from Center Moriches High School have also had the opportunity to speak at the Special Olympics Unified Youth Summit and at Center Moriches School District Board of Education meetings.



“Our Unified sports and programs have become a core part of the Center Moriches School District” said Center Moriches Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ricardo Soto. “We are honored to receive such an impressive distinction."

N-SSBA in the News

Newsday 9/11/25

Newsday 9/16/25

Newsday 9/17/25

Newsday 9/25/25
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