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Manhasset board hears budget implications from Albany, construction updates and staffing changes
Summary
Superintendent Gaurav Posse summarized New York state budget items affecting the district, described summer construction projects across schools, and announced personnel moves including the appointment of an assistant principal and the resignation of the assistant superintendent for business.
Manhasset Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. Gaurav Posse told the board that recently passed New York state budget provisions will preserve a 2% minimum increase in foundation aid and include a statewide “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban and support for universal school meals.
The funding and policy changes, Posse said during the board's meeting, could affect how the district implements student-device rules and whether the secondary school opts into the National School Lunch Program so all students can receive free breakfast and lunch.
The state budget “maintains the 2% minimum increase for foundation aid,” Posse said, adding that the bell-to-bell cell phone ban will require the district to develop clear protocols for secondary schools by September. He noted the district’s secondary school currently does not participate in the National School Lunch Program and said staff will investigate participation so that the school can offer universal free meals if feasible.
The superintendent also detailed extensive summer construction across the district. He said Shelter Rock and the secondary school will see the largest work: at Shelter Rock, parking lots, sidewalks, the library and bathrooms will be renovated and a speech-suite project is scheduled for early June completion; at the secondary school, the district will remove stairs between a life-skills classroom and adjacent bathrooms by constructing a platform to create an accessible hallway, improve a turnaround near the guard booth, install lift gates and refresh the cafeteria using cafeteria fund balances rather than bond funds.
At Munsey Park, Posse said the district will upgrade electrical infrastructure to support air conditioning in original-wing classrooms and adjust a crosswalk and curb cut near the gymnasium. He added that the last remaining bond project will be construction of a Black Box Theater and that contingency funds might allow expanding bathroom renovations.
On personnel, Posse announced the board was set to appoint Kim Bridal as assistant principal at the secondary school. "Miss Kim Bridal joins us from the Port Jefferson School District," he said, noting her previous role as assistant principal there and earlier experience teaching English at Northport High School. Posse also announced the resignation of Dr. Sam Gurgis, the district’s assistant superintendent for business and operations, who accepted a regional leadership position at Nassau BOCES. Board members thanked Gurgis for his service and unanimously approved the personnel schedule.
Board members asked follow-up questions about the cafeteria redesign budget source and the timing of state policy changes. Posse said the cafeteria refresh is funded from cafeteria profits and that the district will communicate implementation details for the cell-phone policy and universal meals to families in coming months.
The board closed the superintendent’s report after the personnel vote and moved on to the evening’s policy and committee items.
