An image sticks in my mind. At the peak of the pandemic, my daughter sent a photo: My granddaughter, 11, was lying in bed in a dark room, “attending math class” online. It had an apocalyptic feel about it . . . more

Saying “No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered mail-in ballots in local school elections to be counted if received by June 16. more

By executive order last Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reset the school budget and trustees election statewide to Tuesday, June 9. Every voter will receive an absentee ballot with a postage-paid envelope … more

It is probably among the nation’s most thankless jobs –– Board of Education trustee. School board members spend untold hours . . . more

Voters in Malverne responded very favorably to passing the school district’s proposed budget of $54.5 million, which brings a tax levy increase of .83 percent, the lowest the community has seen in two decades. They also easily voted in Proposition 2, which asked voters to approve $1.6 millin in expenditures of the capital reserve fund, which carries no additional cost for taxpayers, the district said. more

On May 17, School District 12 residents will choose among three candidates seeking a seat on the Malverne school board. more

Josephine Bottitta Q: What is your background? A: I’ve been a school board member for nearly four years and its president for the past year. I’ve been involved in the school district for 12 years and prior to that, was a part of the superintendent’s advisory committee for almost two years. I’m an active member of the PTA for Davison, Malverne High School and the Music PTA. I’m a co-founder of Project Enroll Now, have coached Little League for the past seven years and have a masters degree in social work from Adelphi University and a law degree from St. John’s University. I’ve lived in Malverne for 25 years. more

Since April is National Volunteer Month, let’s consider what volunteering really is: a vital part of every community . . . more

Tis the season of tax levies, enrollment projections and capital reserve funds. It’s school budget time . . . more

With the gridlock in Washington, and the latest scandal involving Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s alleged meddling in the work of the commission he created to help root out corruption in Albany, it’s too easy to think that “government” — and government shenanigans — are something far away, either up the Hudson or down I-95. more