At the February 11, 2025 Jericho Board of Education meeting, the board allowed an unidentified alumnus who does not live in the district to speak in favor of renaming Cantiague Elementary School. His remarks included:
“I came here tonight in support of renaming Cantiague Elementary School.”
“Hank is a colleague and a dear friend.”
“I know I don’t live in this district, letting me speak tonight is an honor and I thank you for letting me do that.”
This moment further exposes the board’s hypocrisy—while dismissing legitimate opposition from district parents and taxpayers, they willingly grant speaking privileges to an outsider who openly admits he does not live in the district.
The Board Selectively Prioritizes Voices That Align With Their Agenda
- Local parents and taxpayers have been dismissed as “not representative” when opposing the renaming.
- The Change.org petition was mocked for including names Foresto did not recognize, despite clear evidence that signers overwhelmingly live in Jericho.
- Minority voices have been implicitly discouraged through ridicule of ethnic names, creating an environment where anonymity is the only safe option for many to speak out.
Yet, a non-resident was given time to speak simply because he supports renaming the school.
If out-of-district alumni can be heard, then why are the voices of actual residents being ignored?
The Board’s Double Standard on Public Input
- The board has dismissed concerns from taxpayers who actually fund the district, arguing that a petition does not represent the “real” community.
- Yet, when an alumnus with no stake in Jericho’s current schools speaks in favor of renaming, his voice is welcomed with open arms.
- This proves that the board is not interested in an open discussion—they are simply curating participation to fit their predetermined outcome.
If Outsiders Can Speak, Where Are the Boundaries?
- Will the board now allow anyone from anywhere to influence school decisions?
- If so, why not hold a wider, transparent vote involving all district residents?
- The board cannot claim community input is essential while simultaneously disregarding actual residents and prioritizing non-residents.
Conclusion
This moment at the board meeting further exposes the predetermined nature of the renaming decision. The board is willing to bend its own rules to accommodate support for renaming but dismisses legitimate concerns from its own taxpayers and parents.
If non-residents are given a voice, then Jericho parents and community members deserve to be heard even more. It’s time for real community engagement, not selective participation based on agreement with the board’s agenda.
