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On The Record: Universal Concerns
Rye schools among small group without free pre-K
Good morning. ☕ This is your Thursday, April 9, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast is sunny with a high of 52 degrees. ☀️ Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
A push for pre-K. Out of 673 eligible school districts across New York, just 48, including Rye City and Rye Neck schools, have opted out of the state’s universal pre-K program — a dwindling group that could soon be eliminated based on indicators out of Albany.
Superintendent Michael Burke said the reason Rye Neck doesn’t offer universal pre-K is a lack of space.
“Rye Neck has discussed opening a UPK before, but the space issue is a huge obstacle,” Burke told The Record. “It is unanimous that we want to offer UPK, but everyone recognized the space challenges.”
In January, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a $1.7 billion expansion in childcare funding to incentivize districts to implement universal pre-K. According to data from the New York State Education Department, Rye City was eligible for about $1.06 million in funding, enough to provide half- or full-day programs for 197 pre-K children. Rye Neck was eligible to receive roughly $421,000, enough to service 78 children. Neither district applied.
For now, any district can decline state pre-K funding, provided it notifies the state and explains its reasoning. But in a few years, Rye’s school districts may not have a choice.
Hochul’s plan is to make universal pre-K a mandatory offering for all districts in the 2027-28 academic year. A state Senate bill was introduced to add some teeth to participation requirements. Under the bill, school board members whose districts skip out on universal pre-K funding without a good reason would be required to take early childhood education training.
To read Laurie Mermet’s full report, click here.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rye Neck Superintendent Michael Burke.
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Chris Marshall
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IN OTHER NEWS
THE PEOPLE’S PLAN. The city of Rye is inviting residents to volunteer their time and expertise to support the development of a new comprehensive plan. Want to volunteer? Click here.
BACK IN BUSINESS. Delicias Arellano reopened on April 5 — a little over eight months after a fire severely damaged the local eatery. The grand reopening of the restaurant, which is also known as Midland Avenue Deli, was held on the afternoon of Easter Sunday.
SHOW ON THE ROAD. While work continues on the City Hall HVAC system, City Council meetings and board and commission meetings will all be held off-site. The city clerk, finance, and personnel offices will all temporarily operate remotely. Here’s how to reach these departments in the meantime.
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CITY
Jon Hamm on the set in Rye. File photo/Alison Rodilosso
Season 2 of “Your Friends & Neighbors” premiered on Apple TV+ last weekend, and once again, the series starring Jon Hamm, Olivia Munn, and Amanda Peet includes several scenes shot in Rye.
Astute viewers will spot at least two restaurants on Purchase Street in Rye: Aurora and Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro. Other Westchester County locations this season include The Brazen Fox in White Plains and Westchester County Airport.
The first episode of Season 2 premiered April 3, and following episodes will release on the streaming platform every Friday until June 5.
SPORTS
Clayton McCarthy allowed two earned runs, with two strikeouts. Photo/Alison Rodilosso
Rye and Yorktown entered the final inning tied on Wednesday before the Garnets exploded for eight runs in the seventh for an 11-3 road win.
The victory was the first against a Class AA opponent since Rye (2-2) moved up from Class A this year. The seventh-inning meltdown adds to the woes of Yorktown (1-4), which is off to a slow start after going 19-4 and earning the top seed in the Section 1 Class AA bracket a year ago.
Rye’s big inning started with a single by Michael Bubeck, who scored the go-ahead run after Yorktown walked the next three batters, giving Rye a 4-3 lead. Junior Luke Ontaneda, senior Jackson Pineault, senior Lucas London, and junior Ben Fineberg all singled to suddenly push the lead to 10-3.
POLICE & FIRE
Receipts at a Danbury, Conn., pawn shop linked police to Joise Cabral-Rosa.
Rye police arrested Joise Cabral-Rosa, a 30-year-old from Bethel, Conn., on Thursday for allegedly stealing from her employer’s home in Rye.
On March 12, a report was filed regarding a missing ring that was a family heirloom passed down from one generation to the next. After returning home from work on Feb. 2, the resident observed a drawer in her bedroom closet had been rummaged through and jewelry was missing. She said the only people with access to the residence was her cleaning company.
A receipt from the Friendly Pawn Shop in Danbury, Conn., linked Cabral-Rosa, a former housekeeper, to the sale of jewelry at the location. Unfortunately, detectives were unable to recover the ring before the pawn shop melted it down for scrap gold.