North Shore Report: School Closing Tops Big Education News

For this week's big news on the North Shore of Suffolk County you didn't need to look too far past the local school districts, where school closings, new contracts and proposed cell phone towers got the communities talking.

Here are a few of those stories.

After weeks of debate leading up the to vote, the Smithtown Board of Education this week voted to close down the Nesconset Elementary School at the end of this academic year, a move that could save the district up to $1 million. While it's not the only school closing on Long Island planned this year, it was pretty well accepted by residents compared to other areas. Though comments on Patch suggest not everyone is pleased.

Plans by the district to erect a on the Kings Park School District’s San Remo Property could yield $4.2 million over the next 30 years, but that's not enough to calm angry locals who worry about health concerns for anyone who would be near the communications tower daily. Though experts said there is no reason for concern.

The 2012-2013 draft budget of the Miller Place School District would layoff nearly 23 teachers in the district and cut several academic, athletic and extra-curricular activities. It's the price the district said it will have to pay to stay below the new 2 percent tax cap.

Teachers in Hauppauge got a new three-year contract, a big win for them following a tense 8 months of negotiations that eventually needed mediation to come to an agreement. One of the terms gives teachers a 1.25 percent raise for the next two years since they agreed to a half-step salary increase.