As it turns out, we have a new Nassau County executive. Democrat Thomas Suozzi conceded defeat to Republican challenger Ed Mangano last week. Suozzi lost by a mere 386 votes. more

Talk about timeliness. Last week's column, "Responding to a Trio of Tragedies," was followed by three more incidents this week: a principal held hostage, resulting in his school going into lockdown; a 13-year-old boy committing suicide in the Bronx; and a report that two-thirds of all middle school students say they have been bullied. In each case, there was no outlet for rage. It is incumbent on us to prevent anger from escalating to that point. This week, I will examine a number of the anti-bullying programs that are proliferating in the schools, from the elementary to even the college levels. more

Saul Lerner, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District athletic director, recently resigned his post as coordinator of the Nassau County Boys' Basketball Committee because, he said, the Section VIII Athletic Council rejected a proposal of his to fine-tune the seeding process that ultimately determines teams' playing schedules. In 2006, Lerner was the architect of an ability-grouping system that determined a team's conference by its record. Previously, teams were assigned to conferences without much regard to their records. Rather, officials used what they called the "snake," in which teams were seeded and then laid out on a grid that wound back and forth in serpentine fashion. more

My parents chose to move to Rockville Centre because of its reputable school system and its strong sense of community. To protect and to perpetuate our long tradition of providing an excellent education, we must adapt our school to better meet 21st century learning needs and safety standards. The structural and security problems facing South Side High School affect every student’s learning experience. The temporary solutions and quick fixes of the past can no longer provide the best educational experience for our students. more

At its Nov. 3 public work session, the Rockville Centre school district said it has ordered doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine but that it has not received any to date. School district administrators have been working with the Nassau County Dept. of Health to develop a protocol to provide vaccinations to students and appropriate personnel if and when the vaccine arrives. more

Molloy College's Dean of the Division of Business and its Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Programs invite the community to the school's Fall 2009 Business Speaker Series Event. more

The St. Agnes Elementary School soccer teams finished their seasons last week. more

At the invitation of his sister-in-law, Kristen (Schaefer) Hamid, Chris Browne, local attorney and candidate for the Nassau County Legislature, visited several South Side Middle School 6th grade Social Studies classes on "Constitution Day" last month. more

After 10 days and 150 miles, village resident George Wenk made it from the steps of Oceanside High School all the way to Manchester High School in Connecticut. more

On the board Board of Education Meeting, Nov. 17, 8:30 p.m., SSHS Room 112. Fall Sports Awards SSMS - Nov. 16, 7 p.m. in the auditorium; SSHS - Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. in the gym. High School … more