001Yeah, one of our recipients for the award tonight is literally going to be walking in any second. So, we're kind of delaying. So, uh it was warmer today and it got cold, right? >> Yeah. >> So, should be in any second and we're going to get started. Okay. Thank you. We're not waiting for you. at the board of education meeting January 15, 2026. Please stand for the pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. This evening, the Manassive Board of Education is pleased to present awards that have become part of our tradition of honoring those who exemplify commitment to excellence and who make profound contributions to our school community. Our first set of awards honor
002the legacy of our former Manhasset Superintendent of School with the presentation of the 13th annual Dr. William A. Shine awards. These awards are presented to acknowledge the legacy of Dr. Shai whose progressive leadership embraced a commitment to providing the best educational opportunity for every student every day. A philosophy that has continued in the present. Tonight, we celebrate people who believe in the rewards of an educated mind. Such people have the courage to work toward fulfilling that vision for themselves and through a strong humanitarian commitment for others. These accolades recognize individuals who embody Dr. Shine's profound dedication to educational excellence. His unwavering commitment to nurturing every student's potential laid the foundation for a legacy of inspired learning and achievement. As we honor those who continue to champion the transformative power of education, we remember Dr. Shine's
003lifelong mission to unlock the doors of opportunity and encourage young minds to pursue greatness. His journey was one of passion and perseverance tirelessly striving to uplift and empower through education. This award will be presented in two parts. first to two students who have availed themselves of the opportunities within our community to work toward the attainment of their full potential despite any barrier that might have stood in the way. And next to an individual who has demonstrated a strong commitment to working for the well-being of others. We are honored to introduce our first student recipient, Milan Rizzo. Please close the vote. Get that right. Milan is a senior at the Manhass Secondary School and embodies resil resilience, determination, and compassion with everything she undertakes. Her ability to transform personal challenges into motivation to advocate for others
004and continue meaningfully to her community sets her apart for as an exceptional young leader. She has used her past experiences to push forward with purpose and to help others along the way. Academically, Milan is hard-working, driven young woman who has challenged herself throughout our college preparatory curriculum. She is a member of the Spanish Honor Society and serves as a vice president of the Social Studies Honor Society. Her teachers hold her to the highest regard, noting that she brings the class together, arrives with a smile every day, and comes ready to learn regardless of the difficulty of the subject matter. Milan has distinguished herself well beyond the classroom throughout meaningful extra extracurricular activities and leadership roles. Milan has been an active member of our cheerleading team and proudly serves as a captain this year, demonstrating her
005ability to motivate, unite her teammates. She has also been an integral part member of the teens respect teens club and the feminism [clears throat] club for the past two years showing her commitment to creating positive changes among her peers and advocating for important social issues. Milan's dedication to her community amplifies her character and values. She is an active member of the Northshore chapter of the NAACP and has been develop deeply involved with the EOCC Manhass Great Knack Adventures and Learning Program. Milan also has also demonstrated significant maturity and responsibility by balancing her part-time job at Foot Locker and Ralphs where she works as a cashier and customer service representative. These experiences have further developed her organizational skills, work ethic, and a sense of responsibility. Milan's growth over these four years academically, personally, and as a
006leader has been extraordinary to witness, and we commend her on her prestigious acknowledgement. Thank you. It's okay. Just pressing testing. >> Good evening everyone. I am so incredibly thankful and honored to be here. It is It was a surprise to have received this award, but you know, like they always say, >> got to take what you going to get, right? happy and grateful to be here and seeing all these familiar smiling faces celebrating me tonight and others who were awarded this as well. Thank you once again. I appreciate you all and thank you. >> So, one at a time. Who's going first? Okay, I'll go. >> Okay, D, you go first. >> Laura, you go first. Go ahead, Laura. >> Right here. >> Okay. >> Sorry, guys. >> Okay, hold on. Hold on. We got
007more pictures. >> And one more, please. Oh, for Adrian. >> Okay, one more. >> This is for the >> perfect. Thank you. I don't understand. >> Yes. having next. We are honored to introduce our second student recipient, Matthew Cruz. Matthew Matthew is a junior at the Manhasset Secondary School and a motivated, hard-working, respectful, and responsible young man who performs well in a challenging college level preparatory curriculum. He is dedicated to his academics and takes advantage of all the resources available to him to excel as a student. His teachers share that he is an active and insightful contributor to the classroom. He displays a commendable work work ethic and is an absolute pleasure to teach. This year, Matthew has was accepted to the Barry Techch physical therapy aid and rehabilitation medicine program where he continues to
008shine. Growing up in a bilingual family, he is fluent in both English and Spanish and serves as a role model to his two younger siblings. He is helpful at home, caring for his brother and sister on the weekends. And during the week, Matthew devotes his time several days after school to working at the Adventures and Learning Program, where he assists children with their homework. He is truly kind-hearted and an individual with great potential. Congratulations Matthew family can please join us. Congratulations. of course I just like to thank my mother and father for being here for me for for all the time that we stay here for me and they helped me through out these hard times in school and u my dad mainly he helped me get into the post he's very tech physical therapy
009and I really like to thank him for really pushing me cuz if he um if I didn't go it wouldn't have been >> [laughter] >> But um yeah, >> right here to for me to have this reward is if I wouldn't be here cuz is is great. Really, thank you so much. >> Okay, we're going to take pictures again. All right. Start with here. Go ahead. >> Two. >> Perfect. Everything. >> Yes. Of course. [laughter] >> Yeah. Mommy. [clears throat] One more, please. One more for Nicole. [laughter] >> Social media. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Where'd you go? Congratulations. Welcome. We are also proud to recognize Miss Patricia Master as the 2026 recipient of the Dr. William Shine Humanitarian Award. >> Miss Master always dreams of becoming a teacher. A graduate of Glboro, New Jersey State
010College and Boston University. She taught elementary school in Glboro and Lexington, Massachusetts and spent a year in Montreal, Canada in an exchange teacher program. Several summers were spent training student teachers at the University of Massachusetts in Harvard. She she then moved into administration and became the director of the early childhood and lower school divisions of the Gordon School in East Providence, Rhode Island, subsequently moving to Great Knack, New York as an assistant principal. However, two years later, she asked to be reassigned to a classroom setting. She missed working with children. She retired as a teacher from Great Neack in 2009 after spending 45 years in education. After her husband passed away in 2012, she joined a youth group from the Congregational Church of Manhasset who were helping children with homework at Adventures in Learning. Intrigued
011with the program, she started visiting weekly. When AIL expanded to Great Neack, she switched schools and volunteered at that site twice a week. Beyond teaching, she's a traveler who has visited all 50 states, all seven continents, and over 50 countries. Knitting is her longtime hobby and she donates numerous handmade items to various charities. >> Regina Paul shared, "You will never meet a kinder person than Patricia Master." Though she is many other things as well. She is dedicated public school teacher who has shaped our lives of hundreds and hundreds of students and they are the better and they are better for it. But she is also a dedicated volunteer which is how members of the Congregational Church of Manhassid got to know her two decades ago after she and her wonderful husband Will joined the church.
012They became an enthusiastic volunteers on their bi-weekly trips to the Saratoga Family in a homeless shelter for families with children in Queens. Pat was a natural of course given her years of teaching, but Will was every bit as committed and engaged with these stories we read and art activities we will we did together with the elementary school children who lived at the Saratoga. Together, Pat and Will were the best role models you can possibly imagine. Some years later, Pat joined us as adventure and learning to continue the work that she had excelled for so long ago. She brings a wealth experience and caring understanding, patience and helpfulness to adventures of every week. She makes a difference in the lives of our students and our teachers. Pat is truly one of a kind and adventurous and
013so very lucky to have her. Congratulations once again to Patricia Master. Couple shot. [laughter] Uh I was a teacher in Great Neck for 36 years and during that time Dr. Shine was the superintendent. Um my first grade classroom was in the back of the building overlooking the uh playground. Few visitors ever made it back that far. But one day I looked up and Dr. Shine was standing at the uh classroom door. He was looking around. He did not come in. So I invited him. Dr. Shine, would you like to join us? He hesitated, but then he came into the classroom. He joined a group of children who had just finished reading a story of a about Amelia Heheart. They gladly retold the story to him and he told them a few additional facts about Amelia
014Heheart. As I continued their lesson, he got up, walked around the classroom, crouched down beside other students in the class, and talked with them about the work that they were doing. Then he nodded at me, smiled, and quietly left the classroom. I heard from the principal later that afternoon that Dr. Shine had been uh wrestling with a problem that morning, had left the office to take a little walk around school and came back refreshed by being with first graders. I am truly honored with this award. The first time I went to Adventures in Learning, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. This year I'm helping in a group of kindergarten and first graders with their homework. And the children know that once they're done their homework, they are to read a book.
015Recently, I was working with one little boy. We finished his homework and I said, "Would you show me your bag of books?" Oh, he started protesting. I don't have the book. I don't have the bag. I left them at school. The teacher said I didn't have to read tonight. I already read my books and I while he was protesting I found bag of books and I coached him to take one of the books out of the vat together. We started to read and to discuss the story and I [clears throat] managed to teach him a few little reading strategies. no sooner finished that book and he quickly said, "Would you read another book with me?" And pulled out. We read all five books about a bag. It has been said that life is good if
016you are happy, but much better if others are happy because of you. >> Happiness is adventures and learning. I just want to say that Pat has been an amazing gift to all of us. She first was in Manasset and then went opened Great Neck and she came there and the kids all love her. They just adore her and she reads stories to them. They all sit on the rug and they just are like awe and listening to her. She is really a gift and we so are we're so grateful to have you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Nicole's gonna take a picture also. Come back. >> Come this way a little bit. Thank you. The next award. award is the Maggie Award. This yearly this yearly honor recognizes a member of the Manhasset community
017who like the awards namesake has generously donated time and talents to benefit the children of the Spinny Hill community. The Maggie Award is named after longtime Manhasset educator Maggie Gruntman who is the driving force behind the Manhasset great adventures and learning program. Miss Gruntman also served Manhattan youth through after school and summer programs. This year's recipient is Miss Beth Miller. Beth Miller has been involved with Adventures and Learning for the last 10 years where she has dedicated her time to both teaching and volunteering. Over the years, she has had the joy of working closely with second and third grade students. She finds great fulfillment in supporting students as they grow academically and personally and she is continually inspired by their curiosity, resil resilience and enthusiasm for learning. In addition to her work at Adventures of
018Learning, Beth has volunteered and worked with several community focused organizations including the Manhasset SCA girls and the Congressional Church Congregational Church of Manhasset. Beth is the proud mother of four Manhasset High School grads and grandmother to Cal and Gigi. The adventures and learning team shared the following about Beth. Beth Miller is a shining example of what it means to serve your community. She has dedicated countless hours to the children of Adventures and Learning both as a board member for six years on behalf of the Congregational Church of Manhassid and as a full-time teacher who volunteers her time. Beth students know they can count on her to be there every day. We are grateful for Beth's generous heart and altruistic spirit and we are so lucky to have her as part of the adventures family. Beth
019has a generous, loving heart which exemplifies the spirit of the Maggie award. The entire Manhattan community is incredibly fortunate and grateful for Miss Miller's contributions. Congratulations once again, Mr. >> Um, I just wanted to say [laughter] I just wanted to say that the best part of my day is coming in and getting to spend time with the kids. They're incredible. They just bring me incredible joy. um and the staff at Adventures, the teachers and the board um who, you know, during the day does incredible things for the children in school. It's so important that we continue to invest in our kids. It's the best thing we'll ever do and I'm really happy to be a part of it. Thank you. Everybody do one with you and you and Diana. >> Okay. [laughter] Cool. Perfect. Thank
020you. Well, thank you for joining us for the awards and congratulations to everybody that was recognized today and for all of your talents and we appreciate everything that you've contributed to your community and to our community and um we're just honored to be here together tonight and to be recognizing you. So, thank you very much. So this is the point where we jump into business of the board of education. So it might be a time if you can stay if you want to stay and you have trouble sleeping stay sort of otherwise uh that would be an opportune time to head out and celebrate. Thank you so much for coming. my sister-in-law. Oh, >> I know that happens after it's like your dog, you know. pizza. exercise. Thank you. that I wasn't ready. I think
021so. Oh, Okay. Everyone say that to um >> so we're opening up our our portion of our regular meeting and typically we have open comment at the end of our meeting but uh as an exception and this is something we will visit as a board at a later date for policy our policy has open comment at the end of our meeting But as an exception, we'll have open comment at the beginning of our meeting. Um if there's anybody that would like to speak, uh we'll have you speak now. And just um we usually have like a very long disclaimer, but uh a quick summary is just uh we just um just to refrain from mentioning any uh staff or children um names or anything like that. >> Sure. >> Yeah. And then yes. >> Okay.
022And then um >> so I'll change that. >> We have a mic. And >> where should I stand? >> Wherever you're comfortable stand. [laughter] >> Good evening. Thank you so much for allowing me to speak about this topic. Hi, my name is Sonas Armstrong. I'm the parent of three students at Shelder Rock in first, third, and fifth grade. I'm here to address a serious and ongoing safety failure in our district student transportation. Failures that have already resulted in injuries and trauma for children and and place every rider on the bus at risk. Up until a week ago, our bus was transporting 66 students on a 40-minute route with three children seated in nearly every row. For comparison, other buses in Manass of similar size carry as few as 15 students with many empty rows. We've
023been told that geography is the reason because we are the northmost part of the district. Geography does not compromise does not justify compromising child safety. Bus loads must be balanced equitably across the district. Unlike Munzie, our area lacks continuous sidewalks and some children live up to four miles away from school. We rely heavily on bus transportation. Our driver is excellent, but it is unreasonable and unsafe to expect one adult to operate a vehicle while managing 60 plus children. This situation has created three major hazards. First, severe overcrowding. Children are often forced to stand in aisles or sit unsafely. instruments, backpacks, and projects block walkways, creating a clear evacuation hazard. Second, lack [clears throat] of supervision. Four, five, six-year-olds are seated in the back with much older students. They're exposed to inappropriate behavior, contact, language, unrestricted
024smartphone use, and constant pushing, screaming, and jumping for the entire ride. Third, physical danger. Children have been injured midroot. Recently, a student suffered a bleeding head injury requiring mid-root emergency room treatment. The driver had to handle the medical emergency alone, leaving dozens of children unsupervised. This was deeply traumatizing for the younger students to witness. Children also become ill on our bus, including vomiting in an overcrowded space. This creates unsanitary and unsafe conditions with no way to separate or assist students. We have repeatedly raised these concerns through emails and phone calls to the school and transportation department. A hands-off approach has allowed this unsafe environment to continue. On January 12th, I spoke with the head of transportation. Thank you for this to the superintendent for connecting us. Finally, the head of transportation was able to remove
025six students from our route, bringing the total to 60. Still overcrowded. The head of transportation committed to exploring a route split and adding a bus aid. Those commitments were not fully met. Instead, the driver was given a whistle that day to manage behavior, an ineffective and unsafe solution that further distracts her from driving. Yesterday was the only day a single dead and aid was added to the afternoon bus route. This wasn't our agreement. We still await a shop run and our bus is to be split into two routes. While we appreciate Miss Zimmer wrote the bus on January 9th, one observed bride does not reflect the daily realities. We cannot rely on a single supervised day to ensure safety for the rest of the year. Our request is simple and urgent. We should never place
02666 students in a classroom or on a playground with one adult. It is unacceptable to do so in a moving vehicle. I'm submitting a petition signed by over 100 community members. We are asking for three immediate actions. First, kindly split the route to balance student numbers equally matching other Manhasset buses. Second, provide a permanent chapron for supervising and emergencies. Third, extend the solution to other buses facing similar circumstances. Every child, every student, every day, we must include safe transportation. Our children deserve no less. Thank you. Mrs. Armstrong, thank you for your comments and for uh your communication with the staff and with the board. And we take these um we take this very seriously. Thank you. And um this isn't the forum for us just to have a dialogue back and forth, but I know
027you already have had a dialogue with the administration and we'll continue to have a dialogue and we're taking this very seriously. So we'll be in touch after this meeting and I know that the administration is working on this and we will be active in following up with this and taking every single practice step that we have to. I thank you for your commitment to our children equally. >> Of course. And and our administration cares and is working equally as hard on on this. >> I appreciate that information. >> Yeah. Thank you for being there. Of course, >> we're all parents. We This is very important to us. >> Thank you. >> Of course. >> They don't need to make a quick comment and say topic. >> Yeah, of course. You could come up. the circle.
028>> Yeah. >> Just before you I just have to give the same disclaimer that we just can't mention any names of staff and children. >> And if you could just share just your name. >> Sure. See if I can figure out how to turn this on. You press it up. >> Sorry. >> It becomes green light. >> Okay. Thank you. Can you hear me? >> Click the circular button again. Maybe if it's one of our mics maybe >> sorry >> he's got a magic punch. >> Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Katarina Lutanos. I also have three children on the same bus um as um just wanted to mention that it really is quite a lot of children. And I think the biggest concern is uh driving safely when having so many children in the back.
029I'm a mother of three. My kids are in first, third, and fourth grade. And even when I'm driving my own car with just those three, it's hard to drive safely with all the noise that's going on in the back. And so 66 children does really feel like a lot. I think the um solutions that she outlined, particularly the aid on the bus, could solve a lot of problems and prevent future safety hazards. So just wanted to echo her comments. Thank you. If I could just mention that my understanding is the capacity of that bus is 66, but there are 57 students on the bus. Regardless, that's a big number and we're going to look at that. Okay. Thank you again for sharing your concerns and again the administration um will follow up with everybody and
030the board is in active communication with the administration and also the board is in active communication with the community. So we're here to speak directly with the community as well. We're we're part of the community. We're parents. Our kids go to school. So, please feel comfortable to reach out to us and we're all working together. We all care about each other's children. And I'm so sorry to hear about anybody getting hurt. Nobody wants that. >> Does anybody else would anybody else like to make a comment? If at any point you do, then we'll have it at the end of the meeting. Okay, we'll move on to the next. Yeah, for minutes. >> Okay, all in favor Nicole. We have three. We have We don't have enough. Catherine isn't here today. Superintendent report. Thank you very
031much. Katherine did mention at our last board meeting some of the pressures see and other students she felt are are feeling up at our secondary school in terms of student mental health. And obviously that is a a great concern to all of us here and and and at home. One of the things that we're doing is working through our shared decision making team. That team is made up of parents, students, administrators, and teachers. And we are going to look to survey our students, a short survey at each grade level, 7 through 12, so we can get their sense about where they are mentally, how uh what what struggles, if any, they have and how we might meet them where they are struggling and try and support them. So I appreciate the shared decision-making team taking
032that on. Uh you'll hear more about this as we move forward. It was very profound hearing Katherine speak to this and certainly brought to our attention real needs. It it it kind of speaks to what I would talk about next which are midterms are next week at the secondary school. Schools are closed for those four days. So Tuesday through Friday schools are closed except for students who are attending to take midterms. And kids talked today about some of the pressures they felt taking tests before midterms and then midterms again and some of those pressures that they feel. So uh certainly we are cognizant level. We're aware of it. We're going to begin to have some of the we've been having some of these conversations throughout the years, but um through the shared decision-making team again,
033we're going to look to see that we can't make sure we bring some services, some supports to our students at any time that they're in need. If there are parents who feel their their youngsters are struggling, they can reach out to any of our schools as well, whether it's our principles, social workers, counselors who are there to support. Thank you very much. That concludes my uh superintendent report. Thank you for working on that. I know that that was a a really important topic that Katherine brought up at the last meeting and I'm pleased to see that you already gathered the shield decision. We need to start working on that and I look forward to seeing what they work on and what they bring together for the kids. Uh the next topic is gifts to to
034the district and the SCA is donating um a large check and that's going to serve as curriculum for Journey into American Indian Territory and the check um do we accept $3,350 for that curriculum and Nicole that's three all in favor [laughter] Can I jump in? Yeah. Um, just wanted to say thank you to the SEA. I had the privilege of getting a little insight into that program. I joined one of the fourth grade sessions over at Muny Park because you guys ran it. I guess it was two weeks ago, last week. And I was so inspired and so moved and I learned so much just in the hour that I joined. And I know the program is like three or four hours worth of work. And so, thank you to the SEA. I think it's
035great. I think it's great for our fourth graders to learn about um the Native Americans here on Long Island. So, thank you. Our next policy is right here. My counterpart is not here, so I got to stop reading this now. Okay, so we have a lot of policies on the agenda. So policy 1050, the annual budget vote and school board election to second and final reading. Introduction paragraph number four. The sentence stating uh the proposed budget will be completed at least 7 days prior to the budget hearing is being deleted. Election law requires that the budget be available 14 days prior to the election. Policy will now read the budget hearing will be held not less than seven nor more than 14 days prior to the annual district meeting and election. Section one, propositions required
036wording clarification. The word meeting was added after annual and there will be some capitalization corrections. The policy will now read unless otherwise provided by the education law. Petitions for the submission of the proposition must contain a minimum of 100 signatures of qualified voters of the district or 5% of the number of voters who voted at the last annual meeting and election, whichever is greater. The letter E was capitalized in election section five campaigning and election electionering. Electroineering paragraph two during non-school hours was added to the campaigning guidelines to reinforce where campaigning and electionering can take place on school property. The policy will now just I'm going to help out here. I think I don't know that you have to read every word right of each one. Nicole, it's it's written there. I guess you have
037to because otherwise I'm going to do a lot of reading these policies here coming up also. >> Yeah. I mean if you just if you highlight the changes I think that might be better for me. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So not during non-school hours for that one. >> Just just the red parts maybe right the changes. >> Sounds good. >> Otherwise you got to read. >> Sounds good. [clears throat] Well Mariana usually reads it so better [laughter] than me. During non-school hours would it also change in that same [clears throat] section. section six of the poll watchers the word um privacy booths will be um in there and then capital D the is added it's just minor things or privacy boots um pole watchers guidelines second and final reading um at the last meeting the
038board right um finalized adoption of guidelines however legal came back with minor changes so we're putting it into second and final reading um section one it's going to say no later than 7 Now, the policy will now read, "Candidates will identify the district clerk who is to serve as a poll watcher during the election, no less than 72 hours prior to the election, no later than 7:00 a.m. Um, section two, cell phone use and social media. The policy will now read while serving as a poll watcher will be on there as well." Um, you can you need to make or text a call, you can go outside and pull in place. Um then there is some cross reference changes in policy number 5420R student healthc care services regulations first and final those were all modified
039struck out um policy 6410 um authorized signatures is the first reading we're changing um the auditors had come over and requested that we um up the limit from our 2,000 to50,00 000. The policy committee decided to go with 25,000 as an amount um to require reviews um for signatures from the superintendent business and operations. So um title change was also made. Paragraph two, same thing. Title change was added by the district treasurer and central treasurer as well is added into that. Paragraph four of the same policy. Um, we added assistant business administrator and then we have policy 1500 public use of district facilities first reading. Um, paragraph 2, it's going to say via approval from email from ML schedules. Um, policy will now read can be found on the district's facilities website under the request
040use of facilities master libraries. the ML clarification online submissions and form and then there was um a fee schedule also attached um with that policy and then some cross references were removed and um updated policy 1500R which is the regulation public use of district facilities is the first reading we put um we stroke out some wording because it was incorrect you know cross referencing some policies and then it says is in master library which is the new system that the district is using to save the spaces for when you guys need it. Uh section one permit terms and conditions paragraph one um we added master library section nine of the same policy director of facilities was added. Um section two application for use facility the policy will read in application for facilities or meeting s
041place will use master library located in the facilities website um keep going minor changes that the cross references that were all removed and updated um to reflect though that's it. Um is there any questions from the board regarding any of the policies that we read? Right. So, we're going to move this on Nicole to each one to either the following reading or the final readings. So, all in favor three. Thank you. >> Excellent. And we move on to our 26 27 school calendar. Uh Dr. Terry, do you want to share a little bit about the research that you did with the administration and also the union revival? >> Certainly. We spoke with our teachers admin association, our administrative association as well to review the calendar. There was a challenge. There's always a challenge with the
042calendar in so far as trying to get all the dates in all the holidays and want to be respectful as much as we can. The diverse nature of Manhassin schools a real challenge this year is Labor Day. so late and this happens every few years and this is one of those years where it happens where Labor Day is literally the last uh possible day. It can be essentially uh the 7th of September. So uh we and I will tell you that I worked with the Bosey's calendar and all the local districts as well. Everyone is starting somewhere around September 1st. Some schools are even starting in August uh because of the calendar. So unfortunately we are going to start before Labor Day this year. I know that's not something that we're excited about doing but
043uh the calendar is the calendar and this does happen as I said before and we we did share with uh many in the uh in our schools and the various unions and and people settled on that that such this would be an a acceptable might be the right word calendar for the 26 27 school year. So this is the recommended calendar. I'm just going to remind everybody as well that um graduation continues to stay on the Saturdays as well. >> I don't know if we have a gradu we do have graduation on here as the 20 as the 26th. Um that >> Yeah, that is the Saturday. That's correct. I don't I don't know if that's is that finalized at Rich Rebecca. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Anything else from the board on that? >> Thank
044you so much. I guess just a couple things that we added in the last couple years were also uh the day after Easter having off. >> Yes, Easter and Passover are split this year. So, we did add in uh the Easter Monday as some folks call it. We we recognize the community many kids are home for college and whatnot over over the weekends and we wanted to ensure that people could be together, not have to run out Sunday night. Uh so that the idea was to move that day off there instead of the potentially holy Thursday which would be prior to to Easter. So that was one of the things that we discussed >> day before Thanksgiving. We had incorporated that and we maintain that as well. >> We have we had incorporated that several
045years ago. Yes. And maintain that. >> And then um our fake snow day that we could throw in Memorial Day. >> Yeah. Yes, we do have a fake snow day each year. I'm going to look for knock on some wood here. It is not fun being the superintendent in winter. I will tell you that much. >> A lot of early mornings uh rising and uh there was some potential for for today earlier this week. So you start sweating days before, but but we survived it. And I'm always looking 10 days ahead on my uh on my apps that to to be ahead of that. So yeah, that would be nice to get through without a snow day, even though we love snow days, but it's nice to get through and add that on back into
046Memorial Day weekend. And then is this calendar posted or it will be posted with proof? >> Once it's approved, Nicole, we put it on. >> Okay. We'll put on the website. >> So, all in favor? Thank you. We move on to board discussion and committee reports. Audit committee. >> I can just give a quick update. Uh we finalized two more dates for our meetings into the spring and everyone is able to go and I believe coming up in this agenda the audit committee um remotely reviewed the single um audit of our federal funds and they passed that along to us. >> Thank you. And C finance >> uh we haven't had any meetings but I believe one is coming up. Correct? >> Yes. I believe the next meeting is >> press the button. >> I
047believe the next meeting is the 26 >> of January. >> Thank you, John. M >> 27th of January. >> The MAC committee, we met um this week on Monday. Um we are moving forward with the athletic hallway. So kudos. We're finally getting somewhere after three years. Um they have a lot of things going on. They're develop camps coming up and all kinds of stuff. So it's it's [snorts] moving nicely. We have a a loaded committee like a lot of people on there, but it's great. SCA [laughter] I'm on everything. I don't know. Um, so we have a meeting at the SCA is beginning planning for the the fair and it's in need of volunteers. So please everybody, anyone interested read out to the fair chair here called Meyer fair at mhassidsca.org. We will also like
048to remind the students in the junior class and summer studies applications are now open. The information to apply is on Canvas and will be emailed to them by the their GLC. Also, we are now asking that the nominations to fill out the following SCA positions, executive treasurer, middle school president, and Muny Park president positions are for two-year terms, and nominations should be emailed to nominating manhassets.org. Thank you. >> Thank you, Maria. And thank you for all of your volunteering. We do a lot. Uh tower, I don't have anything for tower. for PACE on January 13th, there was a meeting for offered for transitioning and um toward um and explaining uh transitioning with uh students IEP and offering an o overview and core components. It was offered in the district office on February 9th at St.
049John's University. We're going to have students of ours um within some of our special needs programming have a scrimmage and much of our teachers and administration and students are attending the game to cheer on our student athletes within our programming. And also on January 22nd, there's a Zoom session that's being offered between uh PACE and the counseling office for 2026 learning and support programming. And uh KASA has a lot of good stuff coming up as well. Um, coming up the week of February 3rd is the health and wellness week in the elementary schools and the theme is healthy habits, healthy hearts. And they're going to be sending this flyer out and the kids there's going to be a theme every day. The first day is going to be mindful moments Monday, for example. They're going
050to do pajama day. Um, so each day is a different theme focusing on on healthy habits. Um and on February 3rd at Muny Park 5:30 to 7:30 in the gym um part of health and wellness week is a healthy habits happy hearts family health and wellness fair. So come to the gym at Muny Park. They have a lot of cool booths. No yoga no bliss is going to be there. Kboom Kids to talk about music and movement. Northwell Health to talk about healthy eating. Siri Daly, one of the parents in our community is going to show how to do no baked granola bars which sounds really fun. There's going to be Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts demonstrating um and lots of events. So, it's going to be a really fun night to kick off um
051the health and wellness week at Muny Park Tuesday, February 3rd in the evening. And then Connie Bruno from Kaza also wanted us to highlight um for the secondary school, the guidance newsletter comes out once a month and she has important topics for January and February coming up. For January, the topic of the newsletter is going to be about potency and educating all of us and our kids around the different drugs and the potency and the impacts each of those can have, not on your mental health, your physical health, everything. And then for February, um a topic that's actually really dear to my heart, too, and really important nowadays is why we should all be concerned about gambling. Um it's not just with brick and mortar casinos anymore. it's it's on your phones and it's really
052hard to regulate and it's very addictive like highly addictive and it's something we all should really be watchful of for our kids. So that's going to be in the February um edition and then looking forward to the spring there's um health and wellness fair that Connie is working with you guys to schedule a date on. Um there's going to be raising resilient children uh pro parent program on March 3rd. Shed the meds uh April 25th, the annual mental health march uh February and no May 16th. Um I love this one. Bringing back childhood parent program in June. And then as the kids at our senior class get ready to graduate, um Connie runs a great program for them, Ready, Set, Go, Preparing for Life After High School. um topics about, you know, the challenges in
053college, time management, health of relationships, uh mental and physical health, etc. And she really tries to get that in for the kids as they're graduating. So, a little taste of what K is up to. >> And then the EOC, we got our EOC right here. So, I know that they're doing great work, but I can share um their gala fundraiser is set for Thursday, April 30th, 6 p.m. at Leonards of Great Neck. It's an awesome event and it's so much fun and there's cool um auction items and things like that and um it's to support the summer program for for here for the EOC. Um, and I'm going to read we can talk about the EOCC is sponsoring a literary program in the school district during February uh on the American Revolution and the contributions
054of the culprine culpra spy ring made by a black woman named Liss who was a slave living on Long Island. And that's going to come to the middle school social studies classes in February. Um, that looks a wonderful program, too. So, thank you guys. Anything else I missed that you guys want to make sure? We got it. Okay. Thanks, guys. Thank you. And we'll move on to the personnel agenda. Did everybody have reviewed earlier? Okay. All in favor? >> I'm sorry. Can I just um acknowledge something that's on the agenda? >> Yes. >> Um on the agenda, we have the retirement of Andrew Manda. Um, Andrew was a maintainer at Shelter Rock Elementary School and after 23 years he is retiring um from the district and we just want to send our best to Andrew
055and tell him how much we love him and we thank him from all his services. I know this is wasn't his uh time he really wanted to go but it was the best decision that he could make at this time. So I just wanted to acknowledge him a little bit and just wish him the best and um thank him for everything he's done for our shelter box students. Thank you. >> Thank you, Andrew. Thank you, Dina. >> Yeah, thank you. And then uh we could also invite him when we have our retirement see at the end of the year. >> Okay. Wonderful. And thank you. >> Yeah. And 23 years is a very long time. So thank you so much. We move on from personnel and then that is consent agenda. So motion to approve
056the consent agenda. All in favor you guys [laughter] three. Okay. And then I think it's just upcoming items. our next board of ed meeting. Uh, see, okay, it's February 12th. Discussion of tax path calculations, fund balance. Gerard, you're going to be really busy getting that together. That's at the district office at 7:00. The following one is March 19th, preliminary budget presentation, district office 7 o'clock. And then is there is there anyone that has any public comment? Um now uh the floor is open if you there's anyone that has anything to offer. >> Okay. Um motion to adjourn public session. All in favor? Three. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone and thank you Sh. That's very laughing EOCC for hosting us. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for coming out. Thank you. >>
057Thank you guys.