On Wednesday, Oct. 4, the Manhasset Public Schools Board of Education has set a Public Referendum Vote on two propositions that, if approved by the community, would authorize the district to move forward on two Capital Reserve Fund projects. The first project would authorize the board to expend Capital Reserve Funds for the reconstruction of Munsey Park School to add additional classroom space. The second project would also authorize the board to expend Reserve funds to purchase a parcel of land, contiguous to the Secondary School campus.

Funding for both projects would come from the $1.5 million presently in the Capital Reserve Fund that was established by voters on May 16. Voting will take place at the Manhasset High School gymnasium, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on October 4. Voters must be pre-registered to vote and voter registration must be completed by Sept. 29. The district has an open registration policy where eligible residents, not currently registered, may register on days when school is in session, 8 a.m. to 4 pm. Registration takes place in the office of the district clerk at Manhasset Secondary School. For more information and absentee ballot information, call the district clerk at 267-7724.

Below are excerpts of the Capital Reserve Fund Propositions: Proposition 1 (excerpts) for the Expenditure of Capital Reserve Funds for Munsey Park Reconstruction Project:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Manhasset Union Free School District be authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $750,480 from the Capital Reserve Fund established by district voters at the annual district election held on May 16, 2006, for the following purpose: the reconstruction and conversion of an unused multipurpose room stage area in the Munsey Park Elementary School to yield three additional classrooms.

Proposition 2 (excerpts) for the Purchase of Real Property and the Expenditure of Capital Reserve Funds:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Manhasset Union Free School District ("Board") be authorized to purchase and acquire the real property, together with the buildings, improvements and appurtenances thereon, known as 86 Memorial Place, Manhasset, New York... which real property is contiguous to Memorial Field and the Manhasset Secondary School campus.... for a purchase price of $700,000 ...from the Capital Reserve Fund established by District voters at the annual district election held on May 16, 2006, for said purchase and acquisition.

An analysis of the Capital Reserve Fund Propositions and related information, may be viewed online at the Manhasset School District's web site, www.manhasset.k12.ny.us.

(Editors note: See the letter from the Board of Education and related letters from the community in the Opinion section.)