Serving Manhasset, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Plandome and Flower Hill
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Friday, December 7, 2018
Vol. 6, No. 49
GUIDE TO PARTIES, DINING
SHOPPING
HOLIDAY GUIDE
PARK DISTRICT ELECTION
NIFA OK OKss COUNTY BUDGET
PAGES 33-48
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
• december 7, 2018 ions special section itmor publicat a blank slate media/l
Parents raise concerns with class size
SUGAR RUSH
Say district’s student population increasing, fear overcrowding BY T E R I W EST A meeting that was intended to gauge parent opinion on how the Manhasset Board of Education should allocate its $4.8 million in capital reserve funding instead focused heavily on the number of students in the district and parent concerns that it is increasing. Among a list of more than 25 dream projects to spend the $4.8 million on, the board has designated seven as top priorities, which still need to be narrowed down to meet the limit. One of the highlighted priorities is new classroom space at Munsey Park Elementary School, an estimated $1.25 million project, which Superintendent Vincent Butera said would add up to eight classrooms, depending on the size of the groups they are intended for. About 15 people attended the meeting last Wednesday, and when the board opened questions to the audience, parents honed in on that
option. But it quickly became a discussion about what parents discern to be an increasing student population in the district. The board already anticipates needing two more full classrooms for Munsey Park students next school year, which it promises to accommodate in efforts unrelated to construction that might happen with capital reserve funding. The board has standard guidelines for how many students should be in a class depending on the grade. As of Oct. 31 statistics, the fourth grade at Munsey Park is over the guideline, board President Regina Rule said, and one parent added that her child’s sixth-grade class is now over the guideline as well. Shelter Rock Elementary School’s third grade is over the guideline and sixth grade is at guideline, Rule said. “Our kids are being affected by more people just coming in,” one parent said. “Where are they coming from?” Continued on Page 66
PHOTO BY TERI WEST
Jackie Fenton, an artist at Chocolate Works on Plandome Road, decorates chocolate Christmas trees during the store’s busiest season. See story on page 3.
Puttin’ on the Ritz-Carlton Residences in North Hills BY J E D HENDRIXSON
Carlton Residences in North Hills, officially opened on Wednesday. RXR Realty, Daniel Gale SoThe new luxury condomini- theby’s International Realty and ums at 3000 Royal Court, de- community members gathered signed as part of phase two of the in the club room of the building development project at the Ritz- last Wednesday to celebrate the
project’s completion and sales of many of the 244 multimilliondollar condos. “Most importantly for me this evening, is how proud I am of this project and how proud I Continued on Page 67
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