Hochul Order Threatens "Takeover" of LI School Districts

By Rupert Deedes

An "Emergency Order" from the New York State Department of Education - with the innocent bureaucratic-sounding title of "Regionalization" - threatens a total state takeover of all local school districts on Long Island, and local school boards, parents and elected officials are denouncing it.

Under the Hochul Order, school districts would be left with the power to levy taxes and maintain school buildings, but the power over Superintendents, Principals, teachers, curriculum, and students would be taken over by a "Regional Superintendent" from BOCES, appointed by Hochul's education department.

The scheme is the latest "power grab" by Hochul to target the suburbs.  Long Island homeowners pay 65% of their property taxes for local schools - with nearly every district on Long Island rated among the best in the United States. 

"This is an existential threat to our children's academic experience and an overall dismantling of the structure of NY education," stated Margaret Marchand, a Member and former Chair of the Locust Valley School Board.

Hochul's Order will NOT apply to the "Big Five" school districts - with nearly half of New York State's students - the school districts of New York City, Syracuse, Yonkers, Buffalo and Rochester.  Coincidentally those "Big Five" school districts are all already run by Democrats.

Under the Regionalization Order, the Superintendent of every Long Island school district will answer to the Regional Superintendent appointed through the NYS government's BOCES.  That Regional BOCES Superintendent will then have final authority over the School District Superintendents.

The School Boards will be stripped of authority over the Superintendent, Principals, administrators  and teachers at the schools.

But the School Boards will have the duty to levy taxes to pay for the schools and staff - whom they no longer have any authority over. "Important" tasks - like plowing snow on school grounds, building maintenance, cutting grass, approving the Superintendent's annual budget, and constructing new facilities - will remain with the school boards.

"The 'problem' with the school districts on Long Island - as seen by Governor Kathy Hochul - is that they are 'too good'," stated one Long Island school board member. "Too attractive for people with children in New York City who are fleeing crime and drugs in NYC schools, to move to Long Island."

"The Regionalization Order is a way to 'level down' Long Island's schools into mediocrity - while creating a rich supply of lucrative political patronage jobs for Hochul's cronies to now take," stated one local PTA leader.

The Order was issued as an "Emergency Order" to avoid the states Administrative Procedures Law - and avoid those pesky public hearings and meetings before the NYS Senate and Assembly committees.

The Order will take effect on December 6th, with no right to opt-out by any school district.