Thursday, October 1, 2026
Elementary school realignment has been the subject of an ongoing conversation in the East Rockaway school district since 2011, when the district first considered the Princeton Plan, Board of Education Vice President Maureen Doyle said at the board’s Feb. 10 meeting.
Roseanne Melucci, the superintendent at the time, rejected the plan at a 2012 board meeting, due to “budgetary issues.”
The Princeton Plan is an elementary school model that would align school districts based on grade levels rather than where students live in the community. In this case, the Centre and Rhame Avenue elementary students would be regrouped, with kindergarten through third grade at Centre Avenue and fourth through sixth grades at Rhame Avenue.
The plan was considered again last year, when Superintendent James DeTommaso told the Herald that the demographics of the East Rockaway community had changed significantly since 2012, describing the review as an opportunity to evaluate what configuration best serves the district’s current needs.
“The district is exploring a K-3 and 4-6 elementary school structure to better serve our students and community,” DeTommaso said in a statement released on Jan. 21.
At last week’s meeting, which DeTommaso did not attend, many parents had questions about the plan. When Doyle asked how many had come just to ask about it, roughly 20 parents raised their hands, more than half the attendees.
Lauren Pritchard, who has a son in first grade and daughter in fourth grade at Rhame Avenue, asked, “Can you explain how the district is evaluating the emotional and psychological impact on students, specifically the mental aguish, stress and disruption caused by unexpected school change?”
Pritchard’s son, she said, would have to leave Rhame Avenue, separating from his sister, and readjust at Centre Avenue only to return to Rhame Avenue for fourth grade.
Other parents had similar questions, expressing their concerns about their children’s mental health and the impact that switching schools could have, with complications like disrupted drop-off and pickup routines.
One parent who has a daughter at Rhame Avenue, but declined to give her name, said she “wished they had more details when this announcement was made.”
“We aren’t here to complain,” she said. “We’re here because we want answers and solutions.”
Transportation was a big concern, with parents asking questions about the schools’ busing schedules.
In DeTomasso’s statement last month, he said, “We’re also exploring staggered start times between the two schools to give parents with children at both buildings enough time for drop-off. These adjusted times would be modest — similar to our current schedule — so families won’t experience a dramatic change to their morning or afternoon routines.”
District officials, the statement read, are working with the Village of East Rockaway and the Nassau County Police Department to identify safety concerns at intersections near the school buildings.
“We recognize that any change affects family schedules, and we’re committed to listening to parent feedback as we finalize these plans,” the statement continued. “Your input is essential in helping us create solutions that work for our community.”
Doyle said she could not speak on DeTomasso’s behalf, and the parents’ questions, though noted by the board, received no definitive answers.
“We hear your questions, and no decision has been made,” Doyle said. We want to consider both teacher and family opinions on the matter.”
DeTommaso’s statement added, “Our priority is straightforward: doing what’s best for our students while carefully weighing educational quality, family needs, and the long-term health of our district.”
He noted changes that a school realignment would bring that, he said, would benefit families, including more balanced classrooms, enhanced education centralized by grade level to assess students more accurately based on their learning needs, improved special education, and stronger teacher collaboration.
“This proposal does not involve reducing current staff positions or the number of classes per grade level,” DeTommaso stated. “Instead, it’s designed to manage future growth more sustainably while improving educational outcomes for all students.”
The trustees encouraged parents to ask more questions, and not to wait for school board meetings, but to submit their inquiries on the feedback form on the school district website, EastRockawaySchools.org.
Have an opinion on East Rockaway implementing a version of the Princeton Plan? Send letter to kdechter@liherald.com.
