Beginning with the national election on Nov. 4, voting will no longer take place in the Heights and Harbor Hill Elementary Schools. This long-sought change in polling places was the result of a concerted lobbying effort by school officials, Roslyn residents and other elected representatives.

For many years, the school district has been concerned about its ability to maintain security in the elementary schools when general and primary elections took place while school was in session. The practical inability to isolate voting from regular school activity raised deep concerns about the safety of children and staff. It also placed the district in direct contravention of New York State laws and regulations concerning school security that have been tightened over the years in response to violent incidents in schools.

"Our educational environment will not be disrupted and our children will be safer," said Board of Education Vice President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy, who chairs the board's Legislative Affairs Committee. "We thank the Board of Elections and our elected representatives, in particular Assemblyman Charles Lavine for recognizing the issues and helping to bring about this very important change."

Official notice has been sent by the Board of Elections to voters who are impacted by the changes. The Board of Elections has indicated that workers will be present to redirect anyone who may come to vote at the schools in error.

Please note the following changes in Town of North Hempstead Election Districts that impact the Roslyn elementary schools:

ED NH 13/16

Changed from Harbor Hill School, 3 Glen Cove Rd., East Hills, to Village Hall-Roslyn Harbor, 500 Motts Cove Rd., Roslyn Harbor.

ED NH 13/4

13/5

13/6

Changed from Harbor Hill School, 3 Glen Cove Rd., East Hills, to East Hills Village Hall, 209 Harbor Hill Rd., East Hills.

ED NH 13/3

16/97

16/98

Changed from Heights School, Willow Street, Roslyn Heights, to Gayle Community Center, 53 Orchard Street, Roslyn Heights.

Roslyn High School will remain a polling place for general and primary elections. Voters should check the official notice from the Board of Elections to confirm their polling location.