Hennessey Participates in Longwood Regional Conference; Listens to the Challenges Local School Districts Now Facing
(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Edward Hennessey attended his first meeting of the Longwood Regional Conference, held annually and hosted by the Longwood School District and Eastern Suffolk BOCES last Saturday. The conference draws together school district and legislative leaders throughout Suffolk County to discuss the issues currently confronting their schools.
(left to right): Senator John Flanagan; Assemblymen Steve Englebright and Michael Fitzpatrick; Senators Ken LaValle and Lee Zeldin; and Assemblyman Edward Hennessey
Gary Bixhorn, chief operating officer of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, kicked off the conference with a presentation outlining the Governor’s proposed educational budget and how it will affect local school districts. The conference then moved to a question-and-answer format whereby school district leaders questioned state leaders about budget issues like building aid and the Gap Elimination Adjustment and larger issues like providing mental health services to students as well as making students more college and career ready.
“This was an extremely informative conference in my view. There is no doubt that our school districts are facing some very serious fiscal challenges that will absolutely affect programs and students and perhaps even lead to educational and fiscal insolvency. My goal is to listen, learn, and provide as much help and support as I can so that our districts can do the job they are charged with doing. And it has to happen equitably for every community,” said Assemblyman Hennessey.
