_________
CommuNIty uPDAtE Infections as of April 12
4,459
Infections as of April 5 4,435
$1.00
Oceanside/island park ________
When Property Taxes Go High We Go Low
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Vol. 56 No. 16
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Sanitation commissioner probe stalls ‘I’d like to know how and why the insurance carrier doesn’t feel the need to represent sitting Oceanside Sanitation Dis- commissioners,” he said. “This trict No. 7’s insurance carrier sets a precedent to any sitting or has declined coverage to defend future commissioners that we Commissioner Ryan Hemsley are not covered by any allegaamid a district investigation tions. How is that possible?” into racist, homophobic and “Right now there is no claim o t h e r n e g a t iv e against you . . .” posts that he allegGraff told Hemsedly made on Facel e y. “ B e c a u s e book in the past there’s no claim t h at we re against you, it’s unearthed last just an investigaOctober. tion. There is no “The only defense costs, update that I have there’s no defense is that the insurcoverage, so a n c e c o m p a n y, there’s no risk of T r ave l e r ’s, h a s RyAN hEmslEy liability to the disdeclined to offer Oceanside sanitation trict or yourself.” defense to Com- commissioner At the meeting, missioner HemsGraf f said that ley for the investiHemsley was not gation,” Board of Commission- provided with coverage because ers Chairman Austin Graff said the insurance company insures at the April 1 meeting. the district and its commissionSeeking insurance coverage ers for claims by third parties, for his defense caused a delay in not district investigations. the investigation, Graff noted. Hemsley joined the board in Hemsley appeared at the January 2020, after Commismeeting and claimed that Graff s i o n e r M at t h ew H o row i t z was organizing a “one-sided stepped down. Because he took smear campaign” against him, over in the middle of Horowitz’s adding that he did not under- term, Hemsley had to run in the stand why the insurance company would not cover his defense. Continued on page 3
By mIkE smollINs msmollins@liherald.com
t
Courtesy Oceanside School District
oCEANsIDE mIDDlE sChool was recently named one of 16 2021 Essential Schools to Watch across New York state. OMS offers many activities that emphasize the importance of students’ mental health.
OMS lands prestigious honor Named one of 16 New York Schools to Watch By mIkE smollINs msmollins@liherald.com
Oceanside Middle School Principal Allison GlickmanRogers beamed when the school was once again named one of 16 Essential Elements Schools to Watch recently. The school had previously received the honor in 2012, 2016 and 2018. “I just couldn’t be more proud to be part of a community that, as a whole, remains committed to middle-level
education,” Glickman-Rogers said, “and recognizes the unique needs of the adolescent learners and a community that values the expertise at the middle school.” OMS was recognized by the State Education Department in partnership with the New York State Middle School Association and the Network of Middle Level Liaisons. The designation is “awarded to exceptional middle-level schools that meet rigorous criteria and are on a
path of continuous improvement,” according to a SED release. Because of Covid-19, OMS has operated on a hybrid schedule, with some in-person and some remote students, but will welcome back all students later this month as part of a districtwide reopening plan. The middle school has more than 800 seventh- and eighth-graders, who are divided into four teams: red, orange, green and Continued on page 3
he outcome never changes. I’m not leaving here.