Schools

Superintendent: Return to School Went Smoothly

After seven missed days of classes due to Hurricane Sandy, Babylon students headed back on Nov. 7th.

The return to school for most students throughout the Babylon School District went smoothly, according to a public message from Superintendent Richard Rozakis.

"Even with an obnoxious snowstorm and the incessant gas lines, we were fully staffed and your children’s excellent education continued without further interruption," he wrote on the district's website in a letter dated November 9th. "Normalcy is returning."

Babylon Schools were closed from October 29th, the day Hurricane Sandy made landfall and pushed the Great South Bay across half the village, until November 6th. Seven total days of school were missed and students were technically on leave for 11 total days as the village and most of Long Island coped with the aftermath of the superstorm.

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School had to be cancelled on Monday, November 5th and Tuesday, November 6th due to the gas shortages that plagued our area, lack of heating due to NationalGrid working in the area and slow power restoration on LIPA's part.

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Through all that and a nor'easter snowstorm dumping 4 inches of the white stuff on the area, students headed back to classrooms on November 7th.

"It truly takes a Village to make a difference," Rozakis wrote. "We are rising up from the storm slowly but surely and no doubt we will be stronger and better for having endured."

The superintendent also made note of several useful items for district parents, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's "A Guide to Disaster Assistance and Relief Funding," which helps residents find out what kind of assistance they are eligible for, and a form to provide students with breakfast and lunch due to a change in status caused by Sandy.

In addition, the elementary school will begin having extended mornings starting today, November 13th.


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