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Infections as of Feb. 15
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Infections as of Feb. 8 4,708
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Maidenbaum Propert y Tax Reduction Gro up, LLC 483 Chestnut Street, Cedarhurst, NY 11516
FEBRUARY 18 - 24, 2021
1117735
CommUNItY UPDAtE
FREEPORT
Vol. 86 No. 8
School taxes could rise again into the budget season.” Schools Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham said state aid The Freeport School District would be a challenge for the diswill likely be forced to raise its trict in 2021-22. While Gov. tax levy for the second straight Andrew Cuomo’s tentative state year because of inadequate state budget for next year projects aid, district officials said at the about $2.1 billion in aid for Feb. 10 Board of schools across the Education meeting. state, a 7 percent Last year, the levy increase over the — the total amount current budget, Kunthat the district cham said the direct must collect in taxes aid that schools to meet expenses — would actually was raised by 2.92 receive would be percent, the first reduced by $600 miltime the district had lion, including Freeincreased it after port, which is lowering the levy for expected to lose the previous five $400,000 in state aid. years. District officials While the district said there would be is allowed to raise KIShoRE a loss because the the levy by as much state consolidated 11 as 3 percent, officials KUNChAm expense-based aid said they would not Superintendent categories, which do so, understanding are now listed simthe financial hardply as shared servicships that many Freeporters are es aid. The merged categories experiencing. include Board of Cooperative “It’s incumbent that we think Education Services, textbook, about the challenges our fami- software, library materials, comlies and taxpayers are facing this puter hardware and technology, year due to the pandemic,” said supplemental excess cost, transGabriela Castillo, a Board of portation, special services, acaEducation trustee. “This is going demic enhancement, high tax to be an interesting year as we go Continued on page 4
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
E
Courtesy Freeport Public Schools
Valentines for vets Leo F. Giblyn second-graders in Danielle Barry’s class joined students at the Bayview Avenue and New Visions schools to create hundreds of Valentine’s Day cards to be delivered to local veterans on Feb. 14. Story, Page 10.
WW II hero, community leader Rev. Eugene Purvis dies at 97 By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
The Rev. Eugene Purvis, 97, of Freeport, died on Feb. 5. He was the beloved husband of Dr. Sylvia Purvis, and loving father of Alexius, David and Eugene Jr. Purvis was a World War II veteran and active member of Freeport Cares, a community group that works with the Freeport School District and Village of Freeport to promote programs
and activities for local families. Schools Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham, a fellow member of Freeport Cares and long-time friend of Purvis, noted that Purvis never missed a meeting with the group in more than 20 years, despite his age. “His presence, incredible positivity, love of life and unconditional care for others has left a mark on me and others,” Kuncham said. “He will always be remembered.”
Purvis often described himself to the Herald as a “simple country boy,” born in South Carolina in 1923. He joined the U.S. military just before his 20th birthday, and was assigned to the 435th Aviation Squadron, a unit of African-American soldiers within the 20th Army Air Corps. His unit served on the Pacific front, on the island of Saipan, where they were under constant Continued on page 7
very year we lose about $45 million that we should be getting in foundation aid.