After thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the five-member Manhasset Board of Education has decided to place a revised bond referendum, now totaling $41.5 million, before the public in the Fall 2004. The board took the action at its Jan. 22 public session meeting.

The Board also agreed to remove the portion of the bond project, estimated at $4.1 million, that would fund the cost to purchase land and build a transportation facility at an off-site location. The Board is still moving forward on this initiative to seek property for this purpose. If successful in negotiating for land, the Board will consider placing this item as a separate question on a future ballot, possibly in May 2004.

Barbara Donno, Board president, emphatically stated: "We have a plan that we feel will meet the pressing needs of our growing student enrollment, create a 6-8 Middle School and 9-12 High School at the Secondary site, and address building and infrastructure improvements. The Board consensus is that we do not feel we are ready to present a bond vote to the community in March.

"While we have shared our plan with the community at several meetings throughout this fall and winter, posted meeting presentations on the web site, surveyed residents, prepared publications, addressed civic organizations, and provided tours of the secondary school, more presentations to community groups are required. We want to fully educate and inform everyone about the benefits that our plan for the future will have for the children of Manhasset. Most important, we want to be sure that the plan we put forward will successfully meet the needs of our students," she said.

Mrs. Donno continued saying, "We have also heard from constituent groups in Manhasset who have asked for and deserve more information. We will provide this throughout the coming months. We continue to offer tours of the secondary school to our residents. To date, more than 275 residents have visited the secondary school to get an idea of what the future can be."

Dr. Lawrence Bozzomo, superintendent of schools, explained to the Board that he has conferred at length with Roger Smith, district architect, and Jon Thomas, building construction consultant. Both concur that with a successful bond vote in the fall, we could meet the September 2007 date and move 6th grades into the Middle School. However, some temporary relocation of instructional spaces throughout the secondary building during construction might be necessary.

Dr. Bozzomo said that during any building project, there is always some inconvenience. "We may have to temporarily recapture classroom space by relocating Central Office," he said. "We may have to use an athletic field for construction equipment or for portable classrooms. Other options might be to temporarily divide larger school spaces (such as the Black Box Theatre and the auxiliary gym) to create classrooms so that we can meet the 2007 September date."

On a closely related topic, the 2004-05 budget, Cindy Cardinal, board member, expressed the opinion of the Board saying, "Before asking voters to approve a building improvement plan, we must show good faith to our community and constituents by presenting a solid, fiscally fair 2004-05 budget that responds to the needs of both our students and our taxpayers. This is another reason to delay the bond vote."

Debbie Klein, board member, added, "We all feel that we need to work with and gain confidence of our community before we place any referendum before voters."

Community members who were unable to hear the proposed building improvement plan in December, can view the presentations on the Manhasset Public School District's web site, Manhasset.k12.ny.us. Click on the Building Improvement Plan button or the Community and Board presentations button and follow the appropriate links. For information, you may also call the Office of Community Services at 627-4400, Ext. 2100 or 2101.

Secondary school tours will continue to be scheduled throughout the month of February. Please call the Office of Community Services for days, dates and times of the tours.