Our schools are our community’s invaluable shared asset. In these times of increasing divisiveness, our community has a proud legacy of fine schools to uphold, protect and nurture for the generations ahead. Every May, at budget and board election time, we ask ourselves: Who is best suited to shoulder this immense responsibility on our behalf for the next three years? What do we want for the future of our school community?

As one considers the school board candidates, it can be helpful to ask and consider: Why are they running and what are they running for? Are they running because they truly care about the well-being of each and every of our 3,300 plus students or are they running for themselves?

Christine Monterosso’s demonstrated record, her ability to foster consensus, and her caring and inclusive leadership proves that she is running for trustee because she looks out for the entire Manhasset team: our students, their education and well-being, our school community and our taxpayers. Her vision has been and is a key catalyst for ongoing improvement school- wide. Under her leadership, the district added a top-notch broadcast journalism studio and curriculum; kept the double-accelerated elementary math opportunity and created additional pathways for late bloomers; added engineering opportunities for students at multiple levels and kept the annual budgets within the allowable tax cap.

I have seen firsthand how Christine advocates for each and every student and pushes for constructive and innovative solutions to keep our schools the best they can be.

Christine cares. She goes to great lengths to make herself available regularly to listen, understand and consider the needs of all her constituents. She weighs carefully the needs and wants of all: our students, parents, faculty, staff and taxpayers, and works collaboratively to find optimal solutions balancing and meeting the majority of needs. I have seen her approach evolve as she considers all perspectives. Christine’s passionate advocacy and her collaborative focus on growth, improvement and providing appropriate challenges and opportunities for all students make our schools a better place every day.

Traditionally, our school community’s collaboration, our active listening, our caring and our collective focus on what is best for students makes ours exceptionally special and a place many want to be a part of. Christine actively protects our foundation, nurtures our values and demonstrates them daily in her leadership on our behalf. Join me in voting for Christine as a trustee on the Board of Education to protect and nurture all our school community holds dear.

Regina Green Rule

Manhasset, NY