Residents press board on regionalization rules and call for follow-up testing at Northport Middle School
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Summary
Public commenters urged the board to clarify regionalization emergency regulations and raised calls for periodic environmental retesting at Northport Middle School after a technical report flagged contaminants; superintendent said the district is monitoring state action and local groups are pushing for clearer language.
Residents used the Nov. 21 public-comment period to press the board on two distinct concerns: proposed regionalization regulations from the state and potential environmental risks at Northport Middle School.
Lisa Rankin asked the board to explain the practical implications of the state’s emergency regionalization directive and what choices districts retain, especially for families of students who receive special-education services. Rankin said the regulation’s wording is vague about what districts can decline to participate in and asked how the locally elected board’s authority would be preserved if regional governance or shared services are expanded.
Denise Schwartz, who spoke twice during public comment, urged follow-up environmental testing at Northport Middle School. Citing a large technical report, Schwartz said hazardous compounds including benzene and mercury were identified and that, if the building remains open, periodic retesting should be conducted to reassure families. "If we're gonna keep Northport Middle School open, at least there needs to be periodic follow-up testing based on that ... report," she said.
Superintendent Kevin acknowledged the community's concerns about regionalization and said local superintendents and professional associations are advocating in Albany for regulatory language that reflects local choice. He stated that, based on current conversations, "no schools are gonna be forced to participate in any aspect of a regional plan if it's not something that they believe is gonna be beneficial to their local district," and said the district will monitor developments and consider local advocacy, including drafting a short letter requesting alignment between regulatory text and stated intent.
The board agreed to consider a short, joint letter clarifying local expectations and to post contact points on the district website so residents can reach state and regional decision-makers. The district did not announce new environmental testing at the Nov. 21 meeting; community members asked the board to provide follow-up on testing plans and communication with relevant agencies.