Interim Superintendent Politeri urges residents to join district committees and flags governor—s distraction-free school zones policy

Interim Superintendent Dr. Politeri used her superintendent time at the Aug. 7 Manhasset Board of Education meeting to welcome staff and to ask residents to volunteer for district committees, and she told the board the district is preparing for the governor's "distraction-free school zones" guidance that will require secondary students to store cell phones and internet-connected devices in lockers.

Dr. Politeri, identified in the transcript as Speaker 6, thanked staff and volunteers and said the district had sent a community email asking residents to join committees. "Please go ahead and check our website. Look to join these committees. It's really important that we have this strong relationship between the district and the community," she said. She asked residents to consider the "gift of their time" to the district.

Politeri also described forthcoming policy changes at the secondary level linked to the governor's guidance. "Soon, it's gonna have to put their cell phones or Internet connected devices in their lockers. This will be a real transition for many of us, for parents I know, and for students, and it's something we're going to have to work through," she said. The transcript records that Dr. Rota is collecting information and feedback from parents; Politeri said the district would provide more information and specifics before the start of the school year.

The meeting excerpt also includes a brief welcome to Gerard, the district's new school business official, and staff thanks for support during Politeri's early days in the interim role. The transcript records staff references to Mary Anne and Sal for assistance with office setup and technology, but those mentions were expressions of thanks rather than separate agenda items.

Why it matters: Outreach to recruit committee members affects community engagement and governance oversight; the incoming state-level rules on student devices will affect daily routines at the secondary schools and require district planning and parent communication.

The transcript does not include complete text of any state directive or a local board policy change; it records that Dr. Rota is collecting parent feedback and that the district will follow up with additional letters and specifics.