On Jan. 30, Manhasset's Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lawrence Bozzomo, presented a report to the board of education on the recently completed Manhasset Census and Elementary Facilities Study. He reviewed findings of the demographer's report and yearly update as well as the District findings on housing permits and parochial and private school enrollments.

Dr. Bozzomo emphasized that Manhasset has developed an excellent elementary program. This program is based on a fundamental belief that it should be rich, varied and available equally to every child. Therefore, every student is afforded the best education the district can offer. He stated that the ability to provide programs of equal quality at both Munsey Park and Shelter Rock is currently being somewhat compromised by the large number of class sections at Shelter Rock and the lack of space for specialized programs. To address these issues fully, the district undertook a community-wide census study as well as a study of the elementary facilities.

To put things in perspective, Dr. Bozzomo gave a historical overview of actions conducted by the district with the approval of the board. In 1996, after an initial demographer's report, the board approved a redistricting plan. The plan, implemented in the 1998-99 school year, did not achieve the goal of moving the projected number of students from one school to another. While additional classroom space was built at Munsey Park to accept increased enrollment shifted from Shelter Rock, the number of students actually moved was far less than originally intended. Out of 150 students scheduled to relocate from Shelter Rock to Munsey Park, only 39 were actually moved. This was primarily due to grandfathering.

In 2001, the board of education approved a district-wide census. 74 percent of the total population responded with 55.6 percent of respondents having children in school. Information provided by the census included not only the current elementary population but also information on the projected number of pre-school students. Dr. Bozzomo stated that, "Census results give the district a baseline from which to work and eventually compare later findings. Since there was no available census information prior to last year's, we had to start somewhere. The study should be repeated every three years. In so doing we can more accurately predict growth and deal with it."

The demographer's yearly update, completed in November 2001, showed that overall, enrollment is stable, but steady growth is anticipated. Kindergarten enrollment projections at both schools also indicate stability, with Shelter Rock's expected enrollment remaining higher. If this anticipated growth proves correct, the high water mark should be the 2009-2010 school year, at which time even if enrollment could be equalized between the two schools, there would be over 750 students at each school, 200 more than the current K-6 enrollment.

A review of housing permits does not seem to show any unusual variation. It also appears that private and parochial school enrollment remains stable throughout the District.

Dr. Bozzomo stated that the purpose of the census and the study of elementary facilities was to alleviate the strain that increased enrollment has placed on Shelter Rock School by looking for the least disruptive way of correcting the situation while preserving as many options as possible for the future.

"As superintendent of schools," Dr. Bozzomo continued, " it is my responsibility to look at problems and seek solutions to them for board consideration. How do we relieve Shelter Rock School by freeing up classroom space and provide equity for both schools?

Dr. Bozzomo went on to emphasize, "There is no plan that is already developed. The board of education will review and discuss the report and the recommendations over the next month. My goal is to preserve opportunities for the district in the future and not to move the problem from one school to another." For added emphasis, Dr. Bozzomo reiterated, "It is the superintendent's and the board's responsibility to provide for the educational welfare of the children of the future. In order to do this, we need to take a longer view."

Dr. Bozzomo offered a timeline for board consideration, as well as the following recommendations:

Charter a committee to assist the superintendent in generating possible redistricting scenarios and make recommendations to the board.

Reduce the number of sections at Shelter Rock by three or four.

Move the fewest number of students possible in order to achieve the above recommendation.

Repeat the census and data collection every three years in order to establish more data and predict trends.

The district should continue its quest to gain a portion of the Whitney property and begin to conceptually plan for a possible 6-8 Middle School. This is due to the fact that enrollment at the elementary, and eventually at the secondary schools, will continue to rise.

Consider moving other specialized programs, such as English as a Second Language to Munsey Park to gain classroom space at Shelter Rock.

When appropriate, sections gained at Munsey Park from Shelter Rock should be filled by transferring existing Shelter Rock staff to Munsey Park.

Barbara Donno, president of the board of education said that it is incumbent on the board to make the appropriate decisions. She assured community residents who attended the Board workshop that discussion and careful consideration of the Superintendent's recommendations is just beginning. However, the board will be taking action soon.