Dr. Betty A. Rosa
Commissioner of Education
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Dear Dr. Rosa,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the New York State Education Department's recent
Regionalization Plan and the accompanying Emergency Regulation listed in the September 25, 2024,
New York State Register. I believe this plan is not equitable or effective for our school district's specific
needs and lacks clear details on its rationale and goals.

My key concerns are as follows:

1. Forced removal of local control: Our district has thrived under local control, allowing us to tailor education to our students' unique needs. The loss of local control and the imposition of a "one-size-fits-all" solution will diminish the quality of education our community has worked hard to build.

2. Vague and undefined plan: The plan lacks clarity on how it will improve educational quality, address
local challenges, or enhance student opportunities. Without specific goals or metrics for success, its true impact remains uncertain.

3. Rushed fact finding and implementation process: The emergency rule includes mandates and timelines requiring districts to act by December 6, 2024, without  meaningful participation from school
boards, educators, or our community. This haste bypasses proper transparent procedures.

4. Selective application of regionalization plan: Excluding the Big Five Districts (New York City,
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers) from the mandate raises questions about the plan's equity
and fairness.

5. Undue burden on limited resources: Forcing districts to gather data for a plan that may not be approved diverts valuable resources that could be better used to support our students.

In conclusion, we are proud of the exceptional educational environment we have cultivated and sustained for decades in the Cold Spring Harbor school district. We call for an immediate end to the
regionalization plan, which puts that track record of excellence and success in jeopardy.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME HERE]