Education

Jennifer Buscemi, the Sag Harbor School District’s business administrator, started off her budget presentation this week speaking about the federal grants the district receives — for this school year, the school was approved to receive $472,531.67 — and how the district would be affected if they were to be cut.

The Springs School joined people around the world in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. The global awareness day has been observed by the United Nations since 2012 and is represented by the colors blue and yellow.

The proposed 2025-26 budget for the Springs School District will fall within the property tax cap for the first time in two years. The budget was finalized at $38,411,791, a 1.58-percent increase over last year.

Parents Connect, a new group for parents of special needs children, will have its first meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Point, in the Southampton Youth Services building on Majors Path.

In a pilot program that he has been running since he was a freshman, Charlie Stern, a junior at East Hampton High School, determined that the school has thrown out over 100,000 plastic utensils in that time. Now, he's asking the district to consider ditching the plasticware.

East Hampton High School’s science research symposium returns next Thursday evening at 6, and it is open to the public. The symposium gives students an opportunity to present the scientific research they have been working on.

When the East Hampton Y.M.C.A. Hurricanes swim team competed in the state meet at the Webster Aquatic Center in Webster, N.Y., the Springs School fifth grader Novella Dunham won five state championships. Asked how it felt to be a five-time state champ, Novella said that the event helped build her confidence to make her a better swimmer. “I think all of the swimmers did great and I’m excited to have the next meet.”

A shared special education program being developed by the East Hampton, Amagansett, Springs, and Montauk School Districts is slated to be open for the 2026-27 school year on the Springs campus, according to Nancy Carney, that district’s superintendent.

SCOPE Education Services honored three people connected to the Amagansett School at its annual school district awards dinner on Monday at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Russell Schaefer, a bus driver, was recognized with a support staff award, Maureen Cooper, a teacher’s assistant, got an award for teacher service, and Kristen Peterson, a school board member, was honored with a school board service award. 

Thirteen and a half months after being placed on paid leave following accusations that she stole a $25 gift card meant for another staffer, the Amagansett School principal, Maria Dorr, returned to work Monday, cleared of all charges and “as passionate as ever about creating a school culture where respect, growth, and achievement flourish,” she said in a statement. 

East Hampton High School hosted its annual career fair Tuesday morning, introducing students to businesses looking for help as the summer season swiftly approaches, and giving students headed into the world of work after graduation a chance to find an opportunity locally. 

At a meeting last week, Joshua Odom, the school principal and superintendent, talked about what the district hopes to accomplish with the project, fielded questions about the high price tag, and explained the need, noting that the school has “not had a significant investment since 2000.” 

A hearing officer assigned by the New York State Education Department to determine whether disciplinary charges should be brought against Maria Dorr, who was placed on paid leave in January of last year after being accused of stealing a $25 gift card, has found Ms. Dorr not guilty and ordered the district to reinstate her as principal and expunge the charges from her personnel record. 

Starting next year, the president of the East Hampton High School Student Association will have a new responsibility: sitting on the East Hampton School Board as an ex-officio member to represent students’ interests.

The East Hampton School District is hoping to add a new clinical medical assistant program to its high school offerings.

Recently, the school's Diversity Club hosted a sneaker drive to collect sneakers for those in need.

The Springs School Board deliberated last week over a proposition for the May ballot that will ask voters to reauthorize the district’s repair reserve fund, but the phrasing of the proposal prompted questions from one resident and some clarification from the district’s business administrator.

As school superintendents from around the East End discuss regionalization efforts, plans are in the works for a new shared special education program developed by the East Hampton, Amagansett, Springs, and Montauk Schools that will operate out of the Springs Youth Association building on the Springs campus starting in September. 

Sharing stories of challenges faced communicating with school staff, Spanish-speaking parents have asked the Sag Harbor School Board to add more bilingual staff.

They didn’t need to speak the same language to build a school, play soccer, or partake in the most popular local pastime, Senegalese wrestling. For the 22 students on the buildOn service trip, it was a life-changing experience.

The Parrish Art Museum’s 2025 Student Exhibition, with artwork by about a thousand students ranging in age from prekindergarten through high school, will open on Saturday in Water Mill. 

When most people are focused on winter school sports like basketball and volleyball, something else is going on as well: the Special Olympics. 

Fourth graders at the Springs School went on a field trip to the Liberty Science Center and Planetarium in Jersey City last Thursday.

Donnelly McGovern, the boys varsity soccer coach, and Tom Lambert and Chris Schneider, school security guards, stepped up to help when a high school student experienced a medical emergency in the gym in January. “They are simply heroes,” Adam Fine, superintendent of the East Hampton School District, said.

The East Hampton Library has invited young teens ages 11 to 14 to become ambassadors for its Long Island Collection, a treasure trove of historical items and documents that draws visitors and researchers from near and far. 

Testing and training for East Hampton Town’s junior lifeguard program for ages 9 to 15 and lifeguard training and conditioning for those who will be 15 by July 1 will begin on Sunday at the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter pool.

Recently, the Springs School Diversity Club was granted a reward for all of its hard work: a field trip tot the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons adoption center in Wainscott.

Our teen book reviewer recommends three classics that are as relevant and beloved today as when they were written more than 75 years ago: “Anne of Green Gables,” published in 1908; “Pride and Prejudice” from 1813, and “1984,” published in 1949.

Coming to the stage at East Hampton High School this weekend is John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical “Chicago.” Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7, and Sunday afternoon at 2.

For Karen Theiss the job of school nurse in Montauk has always been about creating a safe environment for children. “It’s not just fixing,” she said by phone last week, “it’s making better.” Ms. Theiss will retire from her longtime position at the end of June.