New York’s public school regionalization plan is causing a storm of fear among many on Long Island

LONG ISLAND — A plan to regionalize some public school services in New York state has raised alarm bells among many Long Island parents and educators who fear losing control of their school districts.

But state education officials say that is neither the goal nor the plan.

At issue is a directive that was issued as an emergency regulation by the State Board of Regents. It requires districts to complete a strengths and needs survey about their ability to address inequities so that all students can excel.

The districts already share some services, but the Department of Education says it is looking for more options.

“When we talk about opportunities, we talk about advanced coursework, shared staff, extracurricular activities and a range of subjects,” an official said back in early September.

Educators, parents and lawmakers strongly reject this idea

The regionalization initiative is not well received by many on Long Island.

“We want to maintain local control over our decisions about our students,” said Joe Monastaro, superintendent of Cold Spring Harbor Schools.

“It’s our tax money. We have a say. Keep your hands away from my children,” Great Neck mother Mimi Xu said.

“It is our money, our rule. It has nothing to do with the state,” said one parent.

Fourteen school districts on Long Island have filed a lawsuit to stop the plan. The fine print states that a regional superintendent can force a district to make a change.

“It is clear that this document requires our schools to coordinate, regionalize and delegate authority to a regional authority,” said State Senator Jack Martins, who represents Old Westbury.

Long Island’s 124 school districts, including some of the best in the country, value their elected boards and independence.

“We will not stand idly by while the Department of Education pillages our school districts,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

“It will be a complete power shift from what we have today,” Locust Valley School Board member Margaret Marchand said.

“We will fight for local control until we win,” Bellmore state Sen. Steve Rhoads added.

State education officials say the plan is the only one that is optional

“If they don’t agree to it or it doesn’t come from them, they don’t have to sign anything,” said Deputy Commissioner Jeff Matteson. “But we have no interest in taking away excellent programs from anyone or diluting excellent programs.”

But parents worry that sharing resources means some will be taken away from them.

“If you’re in one of the top three school districts, you’re probably going to lose more than you win. If we succeed, there will be winners and losers,” said one Great Neck parent.

Roger Tilles, a member of the New York State Board of Regents, told CBS News New York that no district should do anything that is not in their district’s best interest. The only thing that is mandatory is to start the conversation.

The regionalization initiative is scheduled to be implemented in 2026 and re-evaluated every ten years.