Manhasset school district proposes $118M budget, 3.44% tax hike

Antoine said the district plans to raise taxes by 3.44%, the maximum allowed without piercing the tax cap.

The district will receive the vast majority of its revenue from property taxes, with over $5 million in state aid, over $1 million in fund balance and reserves, and $382,691 in debt service.

Breaking down the budget, 80 percent is for programming, 11% for capital improvements, and 9% for administrative expenses.

“Programming — that is the lion’s share of the budget. That’s where you need to spend your money. You want to make sure you’re putting money into hiring the best teachers, the best educators, provide our students with the best quality education,” Antoine said.

The district is facing a 9% increase in the cost of the New York State Empire Health Plan, the health insurance plan for its employees and retirees, an increase of more than $1.2 million. The district currently covers 431 retirees and 371 employees.

“We here in Manhasset, just like all the other districts, we run a mini health insurance program. We run a mini pension program,” said President Ted Post.

The district plans to add new courses in Personal Finance, AP Comparative Government, and Chinese 2. It is also adding a Seal of Civic Readiness. The district will also continue offering the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, with over 100 students expected to earn it in the first year at Manhasset High School.

Antoine said he has been looking to cut costs in any way he can since he joined the district, including buying Chromebooks through a five-year program with BOCES rather than incurring a larger one-year expense.

Post applauded Antoine’s efforts at cutting costs while refraining from cutting programs 

“There are many other districts that are having to make cuts, and that’s the reality of inflation,” said Post.

The board also unanimously voted to hold a ballot referendum to spend up to $1.7 million from its $7 million capital reserve fund on improvements to the secondary school, Munsey Park elementary, and Shelter Rock elementary buildings. The district plans to make improvements and renovations to the bathrooms and classrooms, replace ventilators, and upgrade the security system.

“The beauty of the capital reserve is that it comes at no additional cost to the taxpayers,” Antoine said.

“I think it’s a sensible use of our reserves at this time,” said Post.

The board also followed up with Alex MacLean, the father of two children who attend Manhasset schools, on a resolution it passed last year, asking the state of New York for an exemption to the state-mandated breakfast program.

Superintendent Christopher Pellittieri admitted that the school district was out of compliance with the state mandate.

“This past year at Munsey school, we did have enough people to potentially utilize the breakfast program,” said Pellittieri. “That resolution ended up being passed, and it really should not have been.”

According to the minutes from the board’s Jul. 14, 2025, meeting, “The results received this year revealed a 41% response rate at Munsey Park with 75% of those responding indicating a lack of interest.”

“For the state to grant a waiver for the program, a response rate of at least 33%, with 80% of those children indicating a lack of interest in the breakfast program, is necessary for the state to grant a waiver to the district,” the minutes say.

Post said the district will also be in the second year of a contract with Aramark Student Nutrition, which does not include breakfast. Post said it would be difficult to provide breakfast and would require going out to bid to receive requests for proposals from potential providers.

MacLean and his wife have been pressing the district for a response for the past few months.

“I don’t get how a mandate from the state, from your governor, from our governor, would get trumped from having an existing RFP,” MacLean said

Pellittieri said the district would likely release this year’s breakfast survey in the coming weeks, and MacLean questioned the board about the wording of the survey.

“Our issue in the past was the preamble and the paragraphs, which were very discouraging language for the parents to vote yes for the breakfast,” he said.

Responses to the survey must be submitted by May 8.

The board also unanimously approved a one-time memorandum for retirement incentives. Teachers must be at least 55 years old and have served a minimum of 19 years working full-time for the school district. If one meets these criteria and submits a letter of resignation by April 13, they can receive a guaranteed health insurance contribution of 24% through their retirement. 

The board also unanimously accepted two gifts to the district — $1,000 from the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal for “equipment and supplies needed for biomedical class,” and $1,500 from the Manhasset School Community Association to partially fund AI speaker Jeff Riley’s presentation to Manhasset parents.

Middle school teacher Sarah Duke also presented Shelter Rock Elementary School teacher Marissa Biggio with her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.

“Marissa just went on a very long, multi-year journey to achieve one of the highest accomplishments that a school teacher can achieve,” said Duke.

Duke said the certification process requires teachers to review their content knowledge, provide evidence of student learning over time, and reflect on their years as a teacher.

Biggio said seeing her fellow teachers get the certification was an inspiration for her.

“Watching them go through the journey and how it transformed their teaching, they became so reflective,” she said. “I wanted the challenge.”

The board will hold its next meeting on Thursday, March 26, for an informal budget hearing.