SEPTEMBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 13
SHOW, WHILE GARDEN CITY FLOURISHES
Asked if the governor intends to
sign or veto the bill, a spokesman
for Cuomo says, “The bill is under
review.” The spokesman added that
the 10-day clock for the governor has
not yet started because his office has
not received the bill. Darling says
that’s because the governor’s office
has not yet requested the bill be
formally sent to his office.
All bills passed during
the legislative session
have to be acted on by
the governor before the
end of the calendar
year. If the governor
does not act within 10
days after requesting
and receiving a bill,
the bill automatically
becomes law.
Among those who sent
letters of support urging
the governor to sign
the bill are Long Island
Association Vice President
of Government Affairs
& Communication
Matthew Cohen, U.S.
Rep. Kathleen Rice
(D-Garden City), and
Rockville Centre
School District Superintendent William
Johnson.
“Corruption, mediocracy, irresponsibility,
lack of leadership, and the
failure by the state of not doing
the right thing for supporting
the rights for the thousands of
children 'without a voice' has
occurred for years,” Gil Bernardino,
executive director of the
nonprofit Circulo de la Hispanidad,
also wrote in support of the bill.
“This situation would not happen
in other school districts like those
surrounding this district: Garden
City and Rockville Centre.”
The Hempstead School District
board has been on record opposing
the measure, which would give the
oversight panel veto power over
spending.
WHAT’S BEFORE THEM?
The push for more oversight in
Hempstead schools comes amid
changes in leadership locally and at
the state level.
State Commissioner of Education
MaryEllen Elia resigned last month
to take a new job and her replacement
was not named as of press time.
And the Hempstead school board
elevated Regina Armstrong from
the title of acting superintendent to
interim superintendent following
the board’s controversial firing of
reform-minded superintendent
Shimon Waronker last year.
Waronker maintains that his firing
was retribution for trying to clean up
what he referred to as a “cesspool” of
corruption he uncovered during his
brief tenure — findings he referred
to law enforcement. He sued to get his
job back but lost and the district filed
administrative charges against him,
but has yet to schedule a hearing on
the issue.
A state-appointed monitor, Jack Bierwirth,
credited the district with making
some progress, but noted that it
could take five to 10 years for a true
turnaround to occur. The district
says it increased its graduation rate
to 61 percent, which is still below the
national average of 84 percent and
Long Island average of 90 percent.
Will the Hempstead School District’s
board graduate to a functioning entity
before it’s too late? Stay tuned.
“I could not understand how I could walk to
Garden City from my home and immediately be
transferred to Nirvana,” says state Assemblywoman
Taylor Darling (D-Hempstead).
Shimon Waronker
Interim Hempstead School Superintendent
Regina Armstrong. Photo
by Bob Giglione
Critics say the Hempstead School District board has been stonewalling reform efforts. (Long Island Press photo)
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
