_________________ FREEPORT _________________ Hard to
HERALD
Reach Savings?
Trust the Experts to Go the Distance.
Also serving Roosevelt
Interact Club designs bin
Village gets new gas lines
Page 3
Page 4
Vol. 90 No. 47
NoVEMBER 20 - 26, 2025
THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCT ION
Apply online at mptrg.com/heraldn ote or call 516.715.1266 Maidenbaum Property
$1.00
Hablamos Español
Tax Reduction Grou
p, LLC
Board of Ed. hold town hall for community oping policy, exercising financial oversight, hiring and supervising the superintenThe Freeport Board of Edu- dent, engaging the community, cation held its first town hall and setting accountability meeting on Monday, inviting goals,” she said. The inaugural event aimed questions from the community to reinforce the disand embarking on trict’s commitment a new effort to fost o t r a n s p a r e n cy ter transparency, a n d s t a ke h o l d e r increase eng ageengagement, with ment, and build C o w a r d vo w i n g trust around dis“visionary leadertrict leadership and ship requires boldadministrative and ness and persissecurity initiatives. t e n c e. We m u s t Sunday Coward, remain steadfast the board’s presieven in the face of dent, presided over adversity. Together the meeting, held with transparency, in the evening in collaboration and a the Freeport High shared commitSchool auditorium. ment to our stuThe inaugural dents, we can meeting focused on strengthen our disthe status of the SuNDAy CowARD trict and move fordistrict superinten- board president, ward with clarity dent’s position, the Freeport High School and purpose.” reorganization of The board its administrative structure, the rationale for a addressed one of the evening’s new biometric entry system, most pressing concerns — the and the legal protocols guiding status of the superintendent’s post. Alice Kane was appointed meetings and board conduct. Coward welcomed attendees interim superintendent, taking by o u t l i n i n g t h e b o a r d ’s over for Superintendent Fia Davis, who has been on adminrenewed priorities. “Board governance is develContinued on page 12
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
B
Courtesy Carlos Flores
gendri Yovani ortiz paredes in class at Roosevelt High School. teachers described him as respectful, hardworking and well-liked.
ICE detains second student from Roosevelt H.S. this year By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
A Roosevelt High School senior is being held in federal immigration custody after his arrest earlier this month, leaving classmates, teachers and district officials shaken as they wait to learn whether he will be allowed to return to school. Gendri Yovani Ortiz Paredes, 18, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after being arrested by Nassau County Police Department “designated immigration officers” and charged with misdemeanor larceny. He is the second Roosevelt student to be detained by
ICE this year. Senior Alvaro Castro Velasquez was arrested in May, just weeks before graduation. Ortiz Paredes is being held at a detention facility in Buffalo, pending a court date. School district officials said they were notified shortly after the arrest. “Our district first became aware of the situation involving Gendri through communication with his family and members of our school community,” Superintendent Shawn Wightman said in a statement. “While we understand that this matter arises from a legal situation outside the district’s authority, our role as educators is to focus on the well-being Continued on page 6
oard governance is developing policy ... engaging the community, and setting accountability goals.