COMMACK SCHOOLS

Dear Commack Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am sharing a letter below that we intend on sending to the New York State Education Department regarding Commack’s position on the regionalization planning process.  After thoughtful discussions with our Board of Education and careful consideration of the initiative's objectives and rollout, we have decided not to participate in this process. The letter outlines the rationale for our decision, highlighting Commack’s long-standing commitment to educational excellence and our proactive approach to fostering innovative, high-quality learning opportunities for all students.

You can read the full letter here: Regionalization Letter.

As always, we remain steadfast in our dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for our students and community.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jordan F. Cox, Ed. D.

Superintendent of Schools

All school districts are required to participate in their local Regionalization conversation. Upon completing the regional plan, school districts are only required to implement activities they have agreed or consented to for their local context in the final plan. While we are currently in the 60-day public comment period on the proposed regulation, at Regent Tilles' request, we are reviewing the regulation's language and considering modifications based on how it is being interpreted in the field. 

Click here to read the full statement.

Dear Commack Community,

Following our recent meeting with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) officials, we want to provide you with an update on the Regionalization Initiative.

The intent of the Regionalization Initiative, as shared by NYSED, is to foster informed local decision-making, support partnerships, and enhance opportunities for all students in New York to have access to high-quality educational experiences.  We are proud that here in Commack we continue to achieve these objectives: we’ve expanded opportunities for all students, managed our enrollment trends—which are now stabilizing—and maintained a fiscally conservative approach.
The first step in this process is for all districts to complete a survey.  The intention of the survey is for NYSED to identify opportunities for collaboration that might result in cost-saving efficiencies or greater educational opportunities for students in our region. The deadline for the completion of the survey is December 6, 2024, and Commack is currently preparing its responses. School district officials will attend meetings to explore potential regional collaborations beginning sometime after November 1, 2024. Each region will ultimately develop a plan that is due by October 2025, with an interim report due in April 2025.

NYSED has created a specific web page with details about their initiative. 

• Overview
• Planning process
• Materials and guidance
• **UPDATED - Frequently asked questions**
• Contact NYSED

In addition to the resources provided, Nassau, Western Suffolk, and Eastern Suffolk BOCES sent a letter to superintendents regarding the Regionalization Initiative. The letter has an important quote that states,

“This communication is necessary in light of recent social media posts and flyers suggesting that the goal of the initiative is to cede control of Long Island’s schools to the BOCES. That is patently false and would require the adoption of legislation radically changing over one hundred years of law.”
 

• BOCES Letter

We are deeply grateful for the support of our Commack community and the value our families place in the education of our children. As the Regionalization Initiative progresses, we have established a dedicated page on our website under the community tab entitled, Regionalization to provide ongoing updates. We will continue to advocate for Commack and keep you informed every step of the way.

Warm regards,
Dr. Cox
Superintendent

On October 29, officials from the NYS Education Department spoke about the Regionalization initiative. 

Find the presentation here and a recording below:

Dear Commack Community,

There has been growing discussion about the recent New York State Education Department (NYSED) Regionalization Initiative. Many of you may be hearing about this for the first time, and we understand there is a lot of speculation surrounding what it could mean for districts like ours.

Next week, members of our Board of Education and Administrative team will, along with other districts, meet with NYSED officials to gain a clearer understanding of the Regionalization plans. Our priority is to gather all the facts before taking any positions or making decisions, ensuring we are well-informed and can keep our community accurately updated.

We are so proud of our Commack Schools and the expanded opportunities we continue to offer our students. As more information becomes available, we will carefully assess its potential impact on our district and will keep you informed on any developments. For further details on this initiative, please visit the NYSED Regionalization Initiative webpage here: NYSED Regionalization Initiative.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cox
Superintendent