Bill Text: NY J01017 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring the Lexington School for the Deaf upon the occasion of hosting its 26th Annual Esther Lustig Memorial Basketball Classic vs. Assembly/Senate All-Stars on May 23, 2023

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-21)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-16 - ADOPTED [J01017 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01017-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1017

BY: Senator RAMOS

        HONORING  the  Lexington  School for the Deaf upon
        the occasion  of  hosting  its  26th  Annual  Esther
        Lustig     Memorial     Basketball    Classic    vs.
        Assembly/Senate All-Stars on May 23, 2023

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
commend  those  institutions  of true purpose and high achievement whose
exemplary programs and accomplishments clearly demonstrate  an  enduring
pursuit  of  excellence  in  the  education  of deaf youth in the Empire
State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the  Lexington School for the Deaf upon the occasion of hosting its 26th
Annual Esther Lustig Memorial Basketball Classic to be held at the  Kipp
Tech Valley Charter School Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 23, 2023; and

  WHEREAS,  This  annual contest will feature the Lexington School for
the Deaf versus the Assembly and Senate All-Stars; this special event is
named in loving memory of dear friend and colleague Esther Lustig; and

  WHEREAS, The Lexington School for the Deaf was founded in 1864  when
the  first  class of six children and an instructor convened at the home
of Isaac and Hannah Rosenfeld; and

  WHEREAS, Due to constantly increasing enrollment, the  school  moved
several times until it settled in 1882, at 904 Lexington Avenue with 161
students;  in  1934,  it  officially became the Lexington School for the
Deaf; and

  WHEREAS, The Lexington School for the Deaf continued to grow and  in
1968,  its  new home was inaugurated on a seven-acre site at 30th Avenue
and 75th Street in Jackson Heights, Queens; and

  WHEREAS, Today, the Lexington School for the Deaf,  with  a  student
body over 350, is the largest school for the deaf in New York State, and
its  student body resides throughout the five boroughs of New York City;
and

  WHEREAS,  A  charter  member  of  the  4201  Association,  New  York
State-supported  private  schools  for  disabled children, the Lexington
School for the Deaf houses the only high school in New York  City  under
the auspices of the 4201 charter; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Lexington  School for the Deaf has been recognized at
the  local,  national  and  international  levels  for  its   pioneering
programs,  including  the first nursery program for deaf children on the
east coast in 1937, a Research Department to promote  the  investigation
of  educational,  developmental  and  vocational  issues  affecting deaf
children and adults in 1960, and  a  Special  Education  Unit  for  deaf
children of all ages with serious emotional problems in 1979; and

  WHEREAS,  In  the  1980s,  the  Lexington School for the Deaf became
known as the Lexington School for the Deaf/Center  for  the  Deaf  after
establishing several affiliate agencies to support the needs of deaf and
hard  of hearing children and adults, including the Lexington Center for
Mental  Health Services, the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center and the
Lexington   Vocational   Services,   a   New   York   State    Education
Department-Vocational  Services for Individuals with Disabilities-funded
program; and

  WHEREAS, The Lexington School for the Deaf developed a new  approach
to  teaching  in  the  mid-1990s;  it became the first Mediated Learning
educational model in a school for the deaf, which earned it the  federal
designation of a Most Effective Practices school; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition to its strong academic program, the Lexington
School for the Deaf offers  a  broad  range  of  physical  and  cultural
education programs, including a highly regarded basketball team; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1995,  Joseph Crowley, a former member of the New York
State  Assembly  representing  the  Lexington  School  for   the   Deaf,
established  the  Lexington School versus the New York State Legislature
Basketball Game; and

  WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to  extend  its
highest  commendation  to  all of the individuals who have been involved
with the Lexington School for the Deaf, past  and  present,  noting  the
importance of their work and their enduring commitment to deaf children;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Lexington School for the Deaf upon the occasion of hosting its
26th Annual Esther Lustig Memorial Basketball Classic; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted   to   Russell  O.  West,  CEO/Superintendent;  Jane  Moran,
Executive Director of Curriculum &  Instruction;  Frank  Dattolo,  Upper
School  Principal;  Carlos  Aponte-Salcedo,  Jr.,  Director of Student &
Family Engagement; Cindy S. Casson, Director, Community Relations;  Carl
Sorrentino,   Athletic   Director;   Gerald   Sorrentino,  Varsity  Boys
Basketball Coach;  Samer  Abualya,  Varsity  Boys  Basketball  Assistant
Coach;   Melissa   Wells,   Cheerleading   Coach;  and  Sabrina  Torres,
Cheerleading Assistant Coach.