[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6178960,"mediaKeyId","5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d","parentId",5139150,"title","Residents ask about Schoology/PowerSchool data-security fixes after earlier breach; district says state and BOCES engaged","audioSeconds",77,"startMs",3037000,"endMs",3114000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d&start=3037&end=3114","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d/thumbnail_3037000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6178960/New-York/Residents-ask-about-SchoologyPowerSchool-data-security-fixes-after-earlier-breach-district-says-state-and-BOCES-engaged","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178960-cc0b223ace6b9a0ee19bcead4ac582a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162772&Signature=OkbAJ8T5OV6EHeJLmrL8xn886IeefdNGZarhBLz0OZiglOx~MwqBUXOC98rBeyCf2~vJECKsl~AP6nPHFxmMsOJlA1La7fGXtzROQWtRSrenKxE1LAmASNYP9HdvHCICFYUVTf-gdPPp8cFNEwkNK43acjkJrY45wB4RBXvkGFfVSTa85Fseb8rH16q0dmxPErRjsf5d6Ld~Yr8h36XPyfNhsMQyFaGNMjD1z242ZQnjC3NE1OwT85KGYM47IJb3-5hPEtWLRYHKi6T9~UYw9C4vEPtMkfLMiMIIQ~vVV3Y5Cwzok~k0pEcMvH4plu0yaPkY91fU5ogz2KU9AerEHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-03T12:55:58Z","article","Residents at the Massapequa Union Free School District meeting raised concerns about student-data security following a data breach tied to the district’s vendor relationship earlier in the year. A commenter asked whether the district’s third-party vendor (Schoology/PowerSchool) now provides multifactor authentication for parent and student accounts.

District officials said PowerSchool (the district’s student-information system) reported that it had made multiple security enhancements but that the vendor did not provide detailed technical descriptions of those changes in the materials shared with the district. The district said it uses multifactor authentication and password policies for on-premises servers and local systems, and it expects comparable safeguards from third-party vendors.

The district said it has engaged regional BOCES and New York State agencies to assess vendor requirements and to strengthen compliance with New York State Education Law provisions intended to protect student data. Board staff said the state does not currently require multifactor authentication specifically but does require several safeguards; the district is pursuing stronger protections and working with state and BOCES partners to encourage enhanced vendor security practices.

The meeting record shows district leaders promised follow-up to parents who had outstanding access issues and indicated presentations and updates on the matter had been provided in previous public sessions. No new contractual actions were recorded at the meeting related to PowerSchool, and officials did not provide a detailed technical list of the vendor’s security changes during open session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Meeting - 7/2/25","oneSentenceSummary","Parents and residents pressed the Massapequa Union Free School District about student-data protections after an earlier breach; district officials said PowerSchool reported security upgrades and that the district is working with BOCES and New York State to strengthen protections.","taxTitle","MASSAPEQUA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38484,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6178965,"Massapequa board adopts 2025–26 budget and sets tax levy; total budget $250.39 million",96,2587000,2683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d&start=2587&end=2683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d/thumbnail_2587000.jpg","/articles/6178965/New-York/Massapequa-board-adopts-202526-budget-and-sets-tax-levy-total-budget-25039-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178965-29cac330832e168f48363a360c62f478/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162772&Signature=fHxFZ~dlUJN~DO77SkFSePpg4aVs1xMvRkTMa1I~MPFMQIbCuGVgFkzetVJQqzmCyHbKoo5jRiuZmGxIPApve4t5osbh8K8ntWutI36yXhnKdZ7LDfstEMQXXP4JjWCp0a3~NpX7d5YZ8tsoRaJ9T7wXwk4TFdUxkkBdQAn5I2ILdd4pK2c1bR67bq~XaCxfFGQ0fa2erA9wVmILjsuEn7MHOUO8BJDuzGqTzd7YYiRlSWiqQofCAlEEcA7~nCrvZ44o7uS~H5xA5sVB35tNnEkd0y9Jf2-I1X~8xL~TZVqUY6914ZKrAu1ZNfd5AAQYzXf3CXqcrH86TbcxMCQ2sQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Massapequa Union Free School District Board of Education adopted its 2025–26 budget on July 1, approving a total budget of $250,388,331 and setting the district’s tax levy and required filings, officials said.

During the meeting the board read and adopted a resolution certifying that the budget for school purposes totals $243,245,381 and for library purposes $7,142,950, for a combined total of $250,388,331. The resolution further recited that the amount to be raised by taxation (the net levy) is $191,018,700, comprised of $183,937,500 for school purposes and $7,081,200 for library purposes, as reflected in the resolution read into the record.

The board directed the district clerk to file a certified copy of the resolutions with the Nassau County Legislature and the Department of Assessment in Mineola, New York, on or before Aug. 15, 2025, citing “section 6-20 and amendments thereto of the Nassau County Administrative Code” as the authority for the filing requirement. Board members moved and seconded the budget and tax-levy resolutions and approved them by voice vote.

Board members then executed the resolutions as required. The meeting record includes the full budget totals as read on the record; board staff noted the figures were entered into the official minutes and that the district will post or file the certified resolutions as required by county rules.

The board also approved routine business items at the meeting, including consultant contracts and personnel appointments, and directed staff to complete signatures and filings tied to the budget resolutions. No separate vote to amend the budget line items was recorded in open session that night.

","The Massapequa Union Free School District board adopted the 2025–26 budget totaling $250,388,331 and set the tax levy and related filing with Nassau County; board members completed required resolutions and signatures during the meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6178970,"Massapequa board authorizes outside counsel in mascot litigation as residents press to keep ‘Chiefs’ name",1333,2501000,3834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d&start=2501&end=3834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5139150-d268b8bb469b745d14bf36077f5b839d/thumbnail_2501000.jpg","/articles/6178970/New-York/Massapequa-board-authorizes-outside-counsel-in-mascot-litigation-as-residents-press-to-keep-Chiefs-name","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178970-82c13bf4181e1b0281249615672980c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162772&Signature=AtBpJ-uJTSdehQB0kTWRv~GBNCtD2oBEKLuOOCA-jngOkn9dwfF0au9DonU~tvj8qLkS4c8Kf76NMMDF4QbgyqfwFRPMbajS-pjAAmG4XILcCPg6leBqDBRBoSIG~YJYqjEDWoP6CZ~mnyx2j1jCwp0H~sQL-will6NvASLvyt6FSpO6N1MmRmftx7-ZQ1HXX-oxFQsapgMqZu5fli5UmTJp~dJlBYvqgotdi-8x8mjhVEN2Ey4qao5mO5OI93to5NJLMvXTkLx-hPrMiHFDmdN4HG18tCl9yQSyxDm-vK~WYJpedZ8t1cR7DZEFnjUsWADn-OZeQ~X0VcE~Kl5kIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Massapequa Union Free School District Board of Education voted to authorize outside law firms to commence legal action related to the district mascot, board officials said at a July meeting. The board approved a resolution authorizing specified firms to represent the district in matters connected to the mascot and unanimously voted to adopt the motion.

The action came amid an extended public-comment period in which student athletes, alumni and community organizers pleaded with the board to keep the “Chiefs” name and associated logo. Tristan, a student athlete at Massapequa High School, said the name “is not only a symbol of leadership and dedication and honor, but it's a mentality,” and warned that removing the name would “erase” part of the town’s history. Giovanni Taurasi, identified as a former student athlete, said the mascot “is a symbol of the great history of our town and our community.” Tara Trossi, founder and president of the Chief Foundation, said the name and mascot “embody a long standing tradition of unity, leadership, and school pride that spans decades” and said the foundation had raised more than $14,000 to support related efforts.

Residents also pressed the board for transparency about legal spending tied to the mascot. Jason Pachecki, a resident, asked for the district’s budgeted and forecasted legal expenses for the 2025–26 school year after the board added an additional law firm to its roster. District Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Michael Ruff (identified in the meeting) confirmed the district’s legal-services budget includes a miscellaneous line item of $25,000 and said other allocations exist within the overall legal budget. Ruff said he had not prepared a specific projection of future legal costs for the mascot litigation.

Community members sought specifics about who pays for the litigation and how much has already been spent. Board officials said the district retains multiple firms for litigation and that Gercio and Gercio serves as the district’s general and labor counsel; they advised that fee details and retainer information are available in past meeting attachments or via public-record requests. A resident asked why a special meeting had been called at short notice; board staff said the meeting was convened for “time-sensitive litigation matters” and the board deemed the situation an emergency under applicable law.

Board discussion on the resolution was procedural at the public meeting: the board president called for a motion authorizing specified law firms to act on the district’s behalf concerning the mascot; the motion received a second and was approved by voice vote. The resolution named several firms in the meeting record and referenced confidential schedule A for the parties involved.

The board did not provide a detailed, line-by-line accounting of litigation expenditures at the meeting, nor did it provide a projection of total future costs for the mascot litigation. Officials pointed to the district website and past agenda attachments for existing budget documents and said more specific itemized billing could be obtained through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request or by reviewing past agenda materials.

The board closed public comment after hearing multiple speakers and later returned to executive session for personnel matters. No additional formal actions related to the mascot were recorded in open session that night.

","The Massapequa Union Free School District board voted to authorize multiple law firms to pursue legal action related to the district mascot. Residents and student athletes spoke during public comment urging the board to retain the ‘Chiefs’ name and logo and pressing the district for details on legal costs and process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents ask about Schoology/PowerSchool data-security fixes after earlier breach; district says state and BOCES engaged

Massapequa board adopts 2025–26 budget and sets tax levy; total budget $250.39 million

Massapequa board authorizes outside counsel in mascot litigation as residents press to keep ‘Chiefs’ name