Longwood School District says it successfully fought gang label

<p>Longwood School District says it got a clarification from the governor's office after it fought back from being labeled as a gang hotspot.</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 3, 2017, 10:04 PM

Updated 2,405 days ago

Share:

Longwood School District says it got a clarification from the governor's office after it fought back from being labeled as a gang hotspot.
Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called Long Island school superintendents to a news conference and announced 10 state troopers would be redeployed "to the 10 schools that we believe have the highest incidents of gang-related activity." 
The governor's list included Longwood Junior High School and Longwood High School. Parents in the district said they were shocked to be included. 
Longwood Superintendent Dr. Michael Lonergan said he was completely caught off guard by the governor's announcement. He said he and the other superintendents invited had no idea what the topic would even be. 
"There has never been gangs roaming the halls of the junior high school, or the senior high school at Longwood School district," said Dr. Lonergan. 
The Longwood School District received a clarification letter from the governor's office that states the selection of the schools for the gang prevention program was "primarily based on intelligence from law enforcement in communities adjacent to and surrounding the districts. Further, we acknowledge that neither the Longwood SHS nor the JHS experience gang activity in their buildings."
The Huntington superintendent also fought the governor's assessment and told News 12 that his school district is no longer included in the plan to put state troopers in any Huntington school.
Gov. Cuomo's office sent News 12 a statement that says in part, "State police will work with and augment existing local law enforcement ‎programs already in effect in schools on this anti-gang initiative."


More from News 12
1:11
Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

Injury at Morristown NJ Transit station leads to train service delays

1:21
Steady rain, cooler feel Sunday in New Jersey; warmer start to workweek

Steady rain, cooler feel Sunday in New Jersey; warmer start to workweek

1:50
Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

Curfew enforcement for kids under 17 now in effect in Newark

1:06
Overnight fire destroys home in Lakewood

Overnight fire destroys home in Lakewood

1:46
Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

0:42
NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

0:28
Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

0:42
Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

1:32
Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

Knowing the early warning signs during Stroke Awareness Month

0:27
Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

0:30
Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

0:27
Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

2:02
Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

1:04
Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

0:49
Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

0:39
Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

0:28
GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

0:40
Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

3:21
Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning