October 29, 2024

Dear North Shore Families,

I hope that you are doing well.  

As you may be aware, there has been increasing discussion on social media throughout several communities about a New York State Education Department initiative known as “regionalization.” 

While each local BOCES is helping districts to organize initial surveys about “regionalization,” we have been assured that this initiative does not involve any effort by BOCES or the New York State Education Department to challenge the local control of school districts, nor does it involve any proposals to combine school districts.  What has been communicated to districts across Long Island and New York State is that “regionalization,” is an attempt to explore how districts within a given region can work together more collaboratively in the interest of providing students with the best opportunities possible.

A letter sent by the Superintendents of the three Long Island BOCES (Eastern Suffolk, Western Suffolk, and Nassau) stated the following:

We write with important information concerning the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) Regionalization initiative. 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. 

At this time, I want to assure you that the New York State Education Department has not issued any guidance on any specific changes related to “regionalization.”  

More information on this initiative can be found HERE. If there are any developments, we will be sure to update you as soon as information is made available to the District. Please rest assured that the District’s Board, leadership team, faculty, and employees remained focused on the goal of supporting our students. 

Should you have any questions, please always feel free to reach out to me directly.

Sincerely,

Dr. Z