Calling for legislative relief, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has said that many Long Island school districts — including Rockville Centre — have “overfunded” their Employee Benefits and Accrued Liability Reserve funds. He says districts should be able to use that extra money that they can’t now touch, for tax relief. The EBALR is used to pay eligible school district employees for accrued sick and leave time when they retire. DiNapoli has said that Rockville Centre is overfunded by $1,669, 278. But Robert Bartels, Rockville Centre’s assistant superintendent for business, along with the district’s external auditors, might beg to differ. more

Long Island may lose 10 state parks this summer as a result of a proposed $29 million budget cut facing the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. more

Last week, the biggest loser wasn’t Massachusetts Senate candidate Martha Coakley or the Democratic Party or President Obama. The biggest losers were New York schoolchildren, who were sold out by the state Legislature in favor of the tremendously powerful teachers unions. more

A survey conducted by the state Environmental Conservation and Health departments of the former Darby Drug/Signature Place site in Rockville Centre has determined that contaminants there pose a significant health threat. more

Peter Strong and Emma Kriss from the 2010 graduating class were chosen as South Side High School’s Outstanding Physical Education Students for the Nassau Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. more

“I think in this day and age we're not asking for special laws,” said Malverne resident Robert Powers. “We're asking for equal laws.” Powers, who married his husband, Howard Costa, in a Connecticut ceremony last year, said he is disappointed with the New York state Senate, which rejected a bill on Dec. 2 that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. The bill had been approved by the state Assembly three times, including the same day it headed to the Senate, but was rejected 38-24 as several Democrats joined Republicans to vote against it. more

Rockville Centre Village Attorney A. Thomas Levin is one of five Long Island attorneys who have again been notified by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that they will have their state pensions revoked. The move is part of DiNapoli’s ongoing review of the state retirement system during which his office has revoked pensions or pension credits of 62 professionals statewide. more

The following are profiles of candidates running for seats on the Nassau County and district court. more

Gov. David Paterson’s dire warning last week of a $5 billion deficit in the state budget over the next two years, and his plans to address it, drew a swift — and negative —response from local officials. The governor’s plan calls for a $3 billion reduction in state spending in the current fiscal year, ending March 30, and includes a reduction in state aid to schools by about $690 million. more

On Oct. 1, 25 students were inducted into South Side High School’s newly-established chapter of the New York State Science Honor Society. more