School District Election Date Changed to May 11, 2021
The State Education Department has approved an appeal from the Great Neck Public Schools to change the date of this year’s School District Election and Budget Vote to May 11, 2021.
According to New York State law, school districts are required to hold elections on the third Tuesday in May. This year, the election date of May 18 conflicts with the observance of the holiday Shavuot, so the Board of Education requested to change the election date to May 11. As a result, the Great Neck School District Election and Budget Vote will take place on Tuesday, May 11, from 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Preliminary Budget
The 2021–22 preliminary budget can be found on the district website (www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/budget21-22) and in the Great Neck Library, all branches.
Budget Meetings & Adoption
Based on the suspension of the Open Meetings provision of the Public Officer’s Law, and for the health and safety of our community, budget meetings will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. Links to these meetings will be posted on the homepage of the district website (www.greatneck.k12.ny.us).
Residents are encouraged to virtually attend the budget meetings online and to respond to the preliminary budget. Final decisions on the budget will not be made until the Board listens to the community’s comments. Upcoming meeting dates and times are as follows:
- Saturday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m. – Board Discussion with Staff & Public via Zoom Webinar
- Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. – Informal Budget Hearing via Zoom Webinar*
- Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. – Official Hearing and Adoption of Proposed Budget via Zoom Webinar*
- Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. – Hearing (discussion only) via Zoom Webinar*
Budget hearings indicated with an asterisk (*) will follow a Student Recognition, which starts at 7:30 p.m.
Voter Registration
If you have voted in any school or general election between 2017 and 2020, you are registered to vote in the school election on Tuesday, May 11. Residents can confirm their registration status using the online Registration Verification tool on the district website (www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/voting) or by contacting the Office of the District Clerk (516-441-4020). If you are not registered, you may register if you are 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States, and have lived in the district for at least 30 days.
North High Student Elected to New York DECA Executive Board
Sahar Tartak, a junior at North High School, has been elected to serve as president of New York DECA for the 2021–2022 school year. New York DECA’s executive officers represent more than 7,000 members, serve as ambassadors for DECA programs, and organize the State Career Conference where thousands of students compete at the state level.
Voting delegates representing high school DECA chapters across New York cast ballots earlier this month for next year’s state executive officers. Sahar was one of six candidates for president.
Sahar has been active in DECA throughout her high school career and she is currently serving as a North High DECA Chapter Officer. She has competed annually at regional and state DECA competitions, earning several first-place and second-place honors. She has also qualified for the national competition every year. In addition to her participation in DECA, Sahar is treasurer of the North High Student Organization, president of Model Congress, and president of the Child Foundation Club.
The North High DECA Chapter has more than 200 student members and is one of the largest chapters in New York State. DECA advisors at North High are Richard Marchese and Paul Rodriguez.
DECA is a global organization that prepares students for college and careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Members develop leadership abilities through rigorous project-based activities and demonstrate their knowledge through business partnerships and competitions.
Great Neck Robotics Teams Organize Food Collection
As part of a districtwide robotics initiative, students across Great Neck worked together to help fight hunger in our community. Robotics teams at the district’s high schools and middle schools collected boxes of cereal for the St. Aloysius Interfaith Food Pantry. With help from the South High Key Club and Facing History program, students donated more than 325 boxes of cereal. Representatives from the North High Goatbusters and South High Rebel Robotics teams are pictured here with the impressive donation.
