Plainview Elementary School Renamed After Late Nassau Legislator

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Board of Education recently voted to rename a local elementary school on behalf of Judy Jacobs, a Nassau County Legislator who passed away in September.

At a meeting on Sunday the board voted unanimously to rename Parkway Elementary, located on 100 Manetto Hill Road, to the Judy Jacobs Parkway Elementary School.

"I do not have to tell you about the impact Judy has had on our district because she was a known presence in all our lives," a post on the school district's Facebook page reads. "She never turned down an opportunity to participate in PARP, Homecoming, an Award Ceremony or our annual Memorial Day Parade."

Jacobs, a Woodbury resident, was diagnosed last May with myelodysplastic syndrome, a cancer which caused her body to weaken, and passed away after hitting her head at her home.

She served the 16th Legislative District, which covers the Plainview, Old Bethpage, Jericho, Syosset, Woodbury, Hicksville, Old Westbury and Roslyn Heights communities, for 11 terms.

According to the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district, she used her connections with North Shore- LIJ to provide opportunities for our Science students at Plainview Old-Bethpage JFK High School.

Jacobs advocated to install the traffic light in front of Parkway Elementary School and the turning lane light at the intersection of Manetto Hill Road and Washington Avenue to make it safer for children.

"If it mattered to the residents of our community, it mattered to Judy," the post reads.

According to the district, Parkway Elementary School was chosen to be remained because of the special relationship between the school staff with Jacobs.

"She took great pride in hosting the 4th graders there at the legislature annually, and participated in their Flag Pole events as well as a host of other activities," the post reads.

The school posted a banner over the school sign this week that reads "Judy Jacobs Parkway Elementary School."