Mineola School District Refutes Cuomo: We Submitted Opening Plan

MINEOLA, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office on Monday released a list of more than 100 school districts — including the Mineola Union Free School District — that it said never submitted a reopening plan to have schools and staff return in the fall, as required by the state. At a news conference, the governor issued a stern warning to those districts: submit a plan by Friday, or don't open.

Mineola's inclusion on the governor's list, much like other school district's on Long Island, was news to Michael Nagler, the superintendent. Mineola submitted its plans "on time," he said, noting he has a receipt from the state Education Department and that its plans have been posted on the district's website since July 31.

"From when closed in March right through today, Mineola Union Free School District has understood that the process of reopening would involve extensive community outreach," Nagler told Patch in an emailed statement Monday. "Our district has employed several means of engaging our community stakeholders in conversation about how to reopen safely."

The district also conducted five parent surveys and held virtual meetings for parents and staff, he said.

"We did so before Gov. Cuomo announced Friday that school districts were required to do so," Nagler said. "We are thankful for working for such a supportive community and our plans reflect their input."

Click here to see the Mineola Union Free School District's reopening plan.

Similarly, the Plainview-Old-Bethpage Central School District, Syosset Central School District and Remsenburg-Speonk Union Free School District all confirmed to Patch they were mistakenly included on the list, despite having submitted reopening plans. Same with Carle Place, Manhasset, and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park, a spokeswoman for the districts said.

"Syosset submitted its reopening plan as required on July 31, 2020 at 12:03 p.m. and obtained a confirmation receipt," that district told Patch in an emailed statement Monday. "The State Department of Health has been notified of the inaccuracy."

Mary O'Meara, the new superintendent for the Plainview-Old Bethpage district, told Patch in a brief phone interview Monday her district submitted two plans: one to the health department and another to the education department.

"We submitted both, we have confirmation from both," she said. "I spoke with the commissioner of the department of health's office about a half hour ago, and she confirmed they're receiving many phone calls similar to ours that we have confirmed receipt of our plan."

She called the governor's list "inaccurate," noting Malverne and Syosset also submitted plans but appeared on the list. The health department informed the districts it experienced a problem and was fixing the glitch, O'Meara said.

O'Meara said her district was told to assume the plans were approved unless officials said otherwise.

But in a statement to media outlets Monday, Rich Azzopardi, senior advisor to the governor, said unequivocally the list of districts that failed to file a plan with the state Health Department was indeed accurate.

"Despite clear guidance provided to these schools, which included a link to the DOH portal, some districts in follow-up calls said they filed with the State Education Department - which is not an executive agency - but didn't file with DOH," Azzopardi said. "Others filled out an affirmation certifying that they would be abiding by the state's reopening guidance, but didn't actually submit their plan, something many of these districts are now rectifying."