Island Park Schools

Almost back to normal for I.P. schools

By Mike Smollins msmollins@liherald.com

After a trying year and a half of uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic, Island Park Public Schools went through remote learning to hybrid learning before finally welcoming back all of its students toward the end of the 2020-21 school year. Upon their return, students and staff members adhered to health experts’ safety guidelines.

In May, voters approved Island Park Public Schools’ $40.9 million 2021-22 budget

The spending plan is a slight uptick from the final 2020-21 budget. Part of that 0.7 percent budget-to-budget increase is going to replace outdated student computing devices and to provide personal protective equipment and sanitary supplies for in-person classes.

The district is allocating funding to expand living environment classes to all eighth-graders and to increase opportunities for students to take the Algebra 1 Regents for the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, the district is focusing funds to curriculum projects for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

In a newsletter to residents, Superintendent of Schools Vincent Randazzo said the proposed budget would continue the “four R” approach to restart, reassure, reengage, and reinvigorate the school community.

Courtesy Island Park Public Schools Top Photo: Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School students celebrated a moving up ceremony on June 24.

Bottom Photo: Several Island Park students were recognized during an Awards Night on June 15