In Valley Stream’s only contested Board of Education race this year, District 24 incumbent Donna LaRocco is being challenged by Nat Patel, a local business owner. more

This year was the first time that school districts had to create budgets under the state’s new tax-cap legislation, which limits the amount that districts can raise revenue through property taxes. Valley Stream’s four schools all came in with budgets at or below the tax cap. more

With a small school district such as East Rockaway, cuts in services and programs can be detrimental to a good education. Having seen how difficult it is to reinstate programs after they have been … more

Oceanside School District officials have put together a reasonable, measured budget. It takes into account the changes being forced on districts by the state (such as the new Core Curriculum … more

One of the most difficult tasks the Herald’s editorial board faces is endorsing a candidate when there are two who are qualified. Island Park’s Board of Education race this year presents us with … more

Next year’s budget for Baldwin schools makes the best of a bad situation. The choices district officials had to make on spending were grim, but they were realistic, and based on many hours of careful consideration. While there may be regret about the plan’s cost-cutting measures, there should not be anger, and voting “no” on the budget as an expression of vitriol would be a mistake. Voters who do so would actually be disadvantaging the students they hope to protect. The outcome would not be a restoration of programs, schools or jobs, but rather an even more savage slashing of funds that would gut district activities and significantly reduce the quality of life for students and non-students alike. more

Ten Nassau County legislative seats are up for grabs within our coverage areas. As voters must do, we looked at the candidates in each district and made our choice.We were faced with the same … more

The Town of Hempstead’s 3rd Council District — which Jim Darcy has been representing since 2001, when council districts were first created — is unique in that it includes several villages, areas that typically receive little service from the town. more

In this space last week, we expressed our disappointment that the Nassau County Legislature puts politics before people, almost always voting along party lines, hardly ever working in concert to accomplish great things for a county that has never needed great things to happen more than it does now. more

Presented with the same two candidates who ran against each other in the last two county elections, the Herald is repeating its 2010 endorsement: We are backing seven-term incumbent Joe Scannell. more