Manhasset board accepts superintendent’s resignation, names Christopher Pelletieri interim

The Manhasset Union Free School District Board of Education on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Bharath Posse and voted 3-0 to appoint Dr. Christopher Pelletieri as interim superintendent effective Aug. 1.

A trustee speaking at the June 24 meeting read a resolution approving a personnel schedule and said the schedule “is to approve the resignation of Doctor Grama Posey,” later referring to him as Dr. Posse and thanking him “for his leadership and his dedication to the community.” The board recorded three trustees present and the motion was approved by a 3-0 vote.

The trustee said the board would name Dr. Pelletieri to lead the district during the transition and summarized Pelletieri’s background, saying he “most recently served as the superintendent of Sachem Central School District” and previously was assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent for personnel. The trustee also said Pelletieri worked in the Rockville Centre School District, taught K–12, and served as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University.

In making the appointment, the resolution described the employment as an interim assignment. The board recorded the effective date of the appointment as Aug. 1; no salary, contract length, or additional terms were stated in the meeting record.

Agenda and meeting notes show two items were on the evening’s agenda: the personnel schedule (which included the resignation) and the employment resolution for the interim superintendent. After the votes the board moved to adjourn.

The board’s remarks praising Dr. Posse and the trustees’ unanimous vote signaled a planned, immediate leadership transition; the record does not state whether the district will begin a national search for a permanent superintendent or what, if any, additional steps the board directed staff to take.