Manhasset Board of Education Trustee Christine Monterosso is the lone incumbent seeking re-election to the board against three challengers.

Monterosso, who was first elected to the board in 2016, is running to retain her seat on the board in an at-large election against challengers Nadia Giannopoulos, Steven Panzik and Allison O’Brien Silva, officials said. The four candidates are running to fill two seats on the board, with incumbent Trustee Regina Rule not running for re-election.

Monterosso said the main reason she is seeking re-election is because she believes in the Manhasset community and that the district can do even more to improve the education it provides its students.

“We’re all very fortunate to live in a phenomenal, award-winning school district,” Monterosso said in a statement. “I want to get back to celebrating what makes us great, focusing on the education and well-being of our terrific kids. I will continue to work tirelessly to assure that Manhasset is a place where all kids can thrive academically and emotionally.”

Silva, who has worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, said her “personal style, skillset and business experience” is the right one to serve the school district.

“We must refocus on delivering a comprehensive, challenging academic program; offer a wide variety of sports, arts, community service, and extra-curricular activities to encourage growth outside the classroom; and a full spectrum of support needed for every child to succeed along the way,” Silva said in a statement.

Giannopoulos said she has dedicated her entire life to education and is a leader in various community groups.

Additionally, Giannopoulos has served as an administrator to a statewide educational program which, she said, has allowed her to engage with a diverse group of parents and stakeholders and learn more about what makes a quality education.

“It is through these experiences I have gained the skill set of empathy, resilience, dedication and engaging in civil discourse, all of which are skills necessary to be a representative of our district,” she said during a virtual forum hosted by the League of Women Voters Port Washington-Manhasset on Monday.

Panzik, a crew coach at Manhasset Secondary School for two decades, said the three superintendents he has worked under provide him with insight on various district matters.

Panzik, a physical therapist and entrepreneur, said he has worked as a liaison between the district and parents to work for the benefit of the student body.

“I cannot promise to have all the answers but I can promise to work tirelessly to find them,” Panzik said during the forum. “We have an amazing, diverse community and a strong school district with passionate faculty and driven administration.”

The election will take place on May 17 at the Manhasset Secondary School from 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.

The two candidates with the most votes will be elected to serve a three-year term on the board.

Also in the election, residents will vote on the district’s $104.8 million budget for the 2022-23 school year. The budget is a 2.46 percent increase from the 2021-22 budget, and the tax levy is just above $94.3 million, a 2.38 percent increase from 2021-22.

Port Washington Board of Education President Emily Beys and Trustee Deborah Brooks are running for re-election against challenger Michael Tretola.

Beys, who has served two terms as a board member, was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2019.

She was unanimously chosen by the board to serve as president last year.

Beys worked in advertising and marketing and was president of the Parents Council, Schreiber Home-School Association and Weber Home-School Association before getting elected to the school board.

Brooks, a lawyer, was first elected to the school board in 2019.

A proponent of a whole-child education, Abramson-Brooks was appointed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve on the state’s Common Core Task Foce. Abramson-Brooks also worked to ensure the district obtained what she said is its share of state aid as a result of the pandemic. She described herself as a “fiscal conservative.”

Tretola, a 20-year resident of Port Washington, said he has 25 years of financial experience working on Wall Street and described himself as a “critical thinker and fierce advocate.”

Tretola also said his daughter, a fourth-grader with special needs, attends Guggenheim Elementary School, which has provided him with insight on advocating for the necessary educational resources on her behalf. 

The election will take place on May 17 at Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Residents will also vote on a $174.8 million budget for the 2022-23 school year. The budget is a 4.5 percent increase from this year’s $167,268,942 budget. The budget calls for a 2.5 percent increase in the tax levy, which falls below the state-mandated cap.  The 2022-23 tax levy is proposed to be slightly more than $150.5 million.

Herricks residents are scheduled to vote on a $125.3 proposed budget as Juleigh Chin seeks re-election to the Board of Education Tuesday, May 17.

The proposal for the 2022-2023 fiscal year represents a spending increase of 1.99 percent from the current year and calls for a tax increase of 0.5 percent.

Over the last seven years, the district’s average tax levy increase has been 1.54 percent.

Breaking down the budget, 76 percent of it is devoted to programs and 13 percent goes to capital improvements, according to district officials.  The district anticipates state aid of $16.6 million, an increase of $2.2 million from the current year.

Some highlights include funding for social-emotional learning programs, instructional technology improvement and updated facilities.

Chin is currently running unopposed for her fourth three-year term. Her current seat is the only one up for election. In addition to her role as trustee, she has also served on the board as a vice president and president, specifically during contract negotiations with the teacher’s union and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.