Calling for legislative relief, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has said that many Long Island school districts — including Rockville Centre — have “overfunded” their Employee Benefits and Accrued Liability Reserve funds. He says districts should be able to use that extra money that they can’t now touch, for tax relief. The EBALR is used to pay eligible school district employees for accrued sick and leave time when they retire. DiNapoli has said that Rockville Centre is overfunded by $1,669, 278. But Robert Bartels, Rockville Centre’s assistant superintendent for business, along with the district’s external auditors, might beg to differ. more

Long Island may lose 10 state parks this summer as a result of a proposed $29 million budget cut facing the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. more

Valley Stream State Park is among 10 state parks on Long Island that could be closed this summer as a result of a proposed $29 million budget cut facing the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. more

Last week, the biggest loser wasn’t Massachusetts Senate candidate Martha Coakley or the Democratic Party or President Obama. The biggest losers were New York schoolchildren, who were sold out by the state Legislature in favor of the tremendously powerful teachers unions. more

According to the results of a statewide youth survey that tracked adolescent substance abuse trends, East Rockaway students have experimented more with smoking and drinking, on average, than those in other parts of the county and state. more

A survey conducted by the state Environmental Conservation and Health departments of the former Darby Drug/Signature Place site in Rockville Centre has determined that contaminants there pose a significant health threat. more

Fifty-one Long Beach students in grades four through 12 qualified to perform in the New York State Music Association’s (NYSMA) All-County Festival in January. They will join a select group of … more

After reviewing the results of a recent school audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office, administrators in the Malverne School District say they have already taken steps to improve the district’s financial operations. more

Peter Strong and Emma Kriss from the 2010 graduating class were chosen as South Side High School’s Outstanding Physical Education Students for the Nassau Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. more

“I think in this day and age we're not asking for special laws,” said Malverne resident Robert Powers. “We're asking for equal laws.” Powers, who married his husband, Howard Costa, in a Connecticut ceremony last year, said he is disappointed with the New York state Senate, which rejected a bill on Dec. 2 that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. The bill had been approved by the state Assembly three times, including the same day it headed to the Senate, but was rejected 38-24 as several Democrats joined Republicans to vote against it. more