BY MADELINE ARMSTRONG
Manhasset’s acting school superintendent, Gaurav Passi, outlined changes to the 2022-23 budget at the school board’s April 7 meeting before the board unanimously adopted it a week later.
Passi, during the April 7 meeting, said the district’s 2022-23 projected budget remains at $104,835,668, an increase of 2.46% from last year. The tax levy is $94,341,648, an increase of 2.38% from last year.
According to Passi, 33% of the budget increase is attributable to employee compensation. “We’ve increased that for supervisory aides in kindergarten at the request of principals,” he said. The aides will now spend two and a half hours in the classroom instead of one and a half hours. “That will be extremely helpful to our kindergarten teachers and our students,” Passi said.
Another change to the budget is that cybersecurity enhancements will increase $199,896, which is $25,000 less than originally projected. Additionally, the contract transportation budget has increased by $168,000 from last week to $489,954 due to contractors in New York state experiencing significant pressure because of increases in fuel prices. The district is working to negotiate a resolution.
After many requests from parents, the Shelter Rock School kindergarten playground has been allotted $225,000 from capital reserve for replacement. Kindergarteners have been submitting drawings and requests for what they want their new playground to look like. “I want the Shelter Rock kindergarteners to know that the board has heard your request,” Passi said.
The capital reserve will also fund the creation of a multi-use field and replacement of infield turf at the secondary school softball field, with lighting funded by community groups. However, one parent expressed concerns that since the entire field will be constructed out of field with no dirt sections allotted for baseball, that risk of injury will be higher. However, the board responded that the teams have played on turf at competing schools and there were no injuries.
The board, during the April 7 meeting, also discussed the creation of the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) groups. So far, 54 parents and community members have expressed interest and they will be divided into four groups: community connections, student experiences, areas of disproportionality and personnel.
Teresa McGrath, district coordinator of science and technology education, then presented the 2022-23 science and technology program overview for the Manhasset school district as part of the preliminary budget hearings that have been taking place over a month. McGrath outlined the district goals for the year as establishing connections, enhancing professional practice, promoting student inclusivity, opportunities and support, and improving facilities.
According to McGrath, in order to establish connections, teachers are being taught to support students in the classroom by incorporating engaging lessons that use a combination of student-centered instruction, inquiry and experimentation. She also wants to increase the practice of “on-the-spot” assessments to address student struggles. An example of this would be for teachers to tell students to ask three questions instead of asking the students if they have any questions, according to McGrath.
Additionally, the district will move forward with Project Lead the Way, a professional development program that educates teachers on how to provide transformative learning experiences for pre-K to 12th-grade students. Another change is that this will be the last year that the fourth-grade test is given before the district moves to a different evaluation process.
McGrath also outlined the program that allows students to engage in their own science research. It is open to everyone and follows a program that will set them up to enter the Regeneron competition their senior year of high school.
The biggest facility that has seen improvement is the technology suite that was made possible by a $50,000 donation from the Tower Foundation. “I think the kids are thriving in the space,” McGrath said.
One concern that was brought up was the lack of girls in the science and technology elective classes and extracurricular programs. “One of the challenges we have is that all of our teachers are men,” McGrath said. “We’re finding ways to promote women in science.”