As a vote on the school district budget approaches, Great Neck Public Schools Deputy Superintendent John O’Keefe presented the district’s non-instructional spending plan at the Wednesday, March 11, Board of Education meeting, with $148 million proposed for the 2026/2027 school year.
O’Keefe said this will amount to about half of next year’s budget, and the district is on track not to exceed the 3.04% tax cap.
“Through each presentation, the numbers will change,” O’Keefe said, reminding residents that the district is still making projections for the upcoming year.
Some of the largest expected non-instructional price increases are for facilities and maintenance, transportation, and employers’ health insurance and benefits.
Health insurance, Social Security, Workers’ Compensation, unemployment, and Medicare payments are expected to increase by over $3 million in the following school year. O’Keefe said fuel and electricity price increases will incur an expected additional $1 million in facilities costs, and transportation costs are being driven up largely by contractors, which is expected to cost an additional $1.5 million, a 9.3% increase from this year’s budget.
“Simple fact is obviously we have a growing number of students going to private schools, and they’re going to a growing number of private schools,” O’Keefe said, with around 2,350 students attending 84 different private schools in a wide area spread out over a 15-mile radius. There are some private schools located in Nassau County with a few in the Great Neck district as well as part of New York City.
O’Keefe said the district is preparing to expand universal pre-k to include full-day programs, which Gov. Kathy Hochul has debated making mandatory for the 2027/2028 school year.
O’Keefe also said the district is looking to install new turf for its field, resurface the track, and install a new lighting system for an estimated total of $4,945,000, but this is not part of the next year’s budget. These funds would come from the capital reserve if residents voted in favor of the changes on a ballot proposition.
The board also appointed Lauren Sullivan to be the next principal of the Village School. Sullivan started working as an English teacher and has served as a faculty member for the last 15 years.
“Her deep understanding of the school’s culture and students positions her well to lead Village in this next chapter,” said Superintendent Kenneth Bossert.
“I’m excited for the future, our future,” Sullivan said. “It’s truly my honor.”
Great Neck South High School Principal Thomas DePaola opened his remarks with a hook.
“Cupcakes and shiny heads,” he said.
DePaola then announced that two Great Neck South High School teachers were nominated for Harvard Club of Long Island Distinguished Teacher awards — Michael Moran and Joseph Ko. Nominations are made by Harvard undergrads from Long Island who choose teachers from seventh to 12th grade who made the greatest difference in their lives.
DePaola read statements submitted by alums about each teacher.
One former South High student wrote of Moran, “He is conservative with praise, yet none of his commentary felt insubstantial. None of his feedback felt pointless. None of his praise felt empty.”
The student then wrote about how Moran would always bring in the “most incredible homemade cupcakes,” and that stuck with them.
Joseph Ko is one of eight teachers on Long Island who are being honored, and one student wrote, “I find it difficult to put in a few sentences exactly how special Mr. Ko is to the South High community.”
The student said Ko was always the first one in the door and the last to leave the school, always ready to help students throughout the day.
“I’m also confident that Mr. Ko has attended more South High-produced concerts than any other teacher. It has become a tradition to try to spot his head in the crowd at the back of the auditorium,” the student wrote.
“Cupcakes and shiny heads,” DePaola repeated.
The board also accepted several scholarship donations. Karen Ashkenase donated $5,000 to the Donald Ashkenase Memorial Scholarship, Michael Sims donated $2,000 to the Ryan Sims Memorial Scholarship, Ruth Kapiloff donated $450 to the Bonnie Mamiye Scholarship Fund, Trustee Rebecca Sassouni donated $180 to the Bonnie Mamiye Scholarship Fund, and Barbara Gholz donated $50 to the Lewis E. Love Memorial Science Education Award.
The board also accepted the donation of a gazebo from the National Honor Society Student Organization, valued at $13,376.20, to honor the memory of Patty and Peter Hugo, and a peace pole with eight languages on it from the Great Neck Middle School Parent Teachers Association, valued at $350.
The board honored 22 students from Great Neck North Middle School who are members of the Best Pals Program. Students lead lessons on self-esteem, friendship, and understanding emotions.
“At its heart, Best Pals helps students see that our differences are not barriers but our strengths,” said Michelle Zwick of the North Middle health department.
The board also heard from several student delegates, who updated board members on the various functions held at their schools. The middle schools hosted an eighth-grade science and research symposium where students presented research projects on safer bacterial cleansers, efficient bow designs, optimal medical absorption, iPhone radiation protection, stain removers, and the benefits of biodiverse farming.
North and South Middle Schools are also holding events for World Language Week, including poster contests, International Apparel Day, teacher-for-a-day presentations, and fundraisers for Soccer Without Borders.
At the high schools, the North High history bowl team placed third in regional competitions and qualified for nationals. The schools also hosted a battle of the classes, with seniors coming out victorious, earning points throughout the week for spirit days and fundraisers.
Gavin Zhou of the DECA team was elected as New York State Vice President of Competition, and Darren Chen and Kylie Deng won first place in the business growth plan category at the DECA state competition.
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24, with another budget development plan presentation.
