How to Make a Central High School District Work

In a school budget year where state aid has been cut and districts across Long Island are making difficult budget decisions, some have suggested that there be . As one of the largest school districts in Nassau County with approximately 8,500 students at the high school level, the offers one method of consolidating districts. New Hyde Park Patch spoke with Sewanhaka to ask him how his district functions.

Communication is key in this kind of district, Meierdiercks explained. The superintendents in the district meet about once a month as do the assistant superintendents, Meierdiercks noted. There are also meetings called if any concerns arise, he added.

Another key element is having a board of education made up of members of the component district that Meierdiercks called "a cohesive unit." He added that though each member represents a feeder district, they also represent the high school district well. Meierdiercks characterized the high school district's board of education as "outstanding."

"While our central high school district works well, so do our component districts," Meierdiercks said.

Adding the students of each of the component districts in Sewanhaka, such as the school district, this district educates about 18,000 students, Meierdiercks said.

So what are some of the benefits of having a central high school district?

"They get the exposure to youngsters from different communities," Meierdiercks said. "They also have multiple programs that they can avail themselves of. They have more choices; they have more program offerings and, in my opinion, they also have it at a reasonable cost."

According to numbers given in a budget presentation to the group, in the Sewanhaka district the cost to educate is $17,287 per student while the Nassau County average is $23,535. The Sewanhaka district is 54 out of 57 in expenses spent to educate students, Meierdiercks added.

To date, the only other central districts are Valley Stream and Bellmore-Merrick.

"It works here," Meierdiercks said of his central high school district. "Would other districts like to do it? I'm not exactly sure. I'm a product of the system and I think it works. I know it works... I think it's a great system. We're not looking to change any other system."

Another reason Meierdiercks noted that this system works is because the community is supportive of it.

"The community's got to be behind that kind of a system [for it to work]," Meierdiercks said.