6 Parents Press Manhasset Board on Safety Protocols After New Injuries

Interim Superintendent Christopher Pellettieri pledged to investigate student safety protocols and report his findings after six parents raised alarms at a Manhasset Board of Education meeting on Oct. 22. The parents requested that the board move the public comment portion of the session to the beginning of the agenda to accommodate the large turnout in the small conference room.

The district has been under increased scrutiny following a series of reported incidents involving student violence. While the parents did not cite specific dates or details of the events, they argued that the district's current response lacks transparency and accountability. Several residents urged the board to reassess how it handles reports from students and to act more quickly when those reports are made.

One parent stated that schools cannot normalize violence. That resident said, “We can’t normalize violence in our schools. We must show our students that when they report an incidence of violence, immediate action will be taken.”

Another resident, identified as a parent of two children in the district, pointed to a recent safety failure that prompted the school to promise additional safeguards. That resident noted that more children were harmed in October, despite those promises. “After a recent safety failure, the school reassured me that the school will put more safeguards in place. Yet this month, October, more children were harmed, and the parents of these children are here today, asking why are safety failures ongoing?” the resident said.

The resident argued that the district's safety review process does not effectively connect related incidents or identify recurring patterns. A separate resident, speaking in a trembling voice, asked the board to support honest students and properly address their reports. Another resident, described as a proud parent and community member, said the repetitive incidents have disrupted teaching and learning. “Historically a feeling of safety was a baseline expectation,” that resident said. “However, with the repetitive incidents happening in our community, teachers can’t work properly and students can’t learn safely. We must ensure safety so our children can excel. We want to know what concrete steps the school is willing to take on this issue.”

That same resident added that it is painful to lose trust in the institution responsible for protecting children. “We’re not asking for anything extraordinary, but basic safety,” the resident said. A final speaker reported that families are struggling to get accurate information about injuries and are being denied access to video footage. That resident asked the board to check if the district’s procedures align with the Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach, or SHERPA. “At what point does repeated aggression prompt reassessment of the safety protocols?” the resident asked.

Pellettieri, who has served as interim superintendent since August 2025, thanked the parents for sharing their concerns. He stated that the board would investigate the matter and share the findings with the community. “We heard some really important things from the community tonight,” Pellettieri said. “I will take on looking into these concerns. We will commit ourselves to winning back the trust with our community.”

The meeting also covered academic updates. Instructors presented data on Regents Exam performance in English, math, science, and social studies. Presenters noted that 98% of graduating seniors are college-bound. The number of students taking Advanced Placement exams has increased by 45% since 2022. Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Chowske discussed the New York Inspires initiative, which modernizes high school graduation requirements.

The district will begin implementing the Portrait of a Graduate framework in the 2026-2027 school year. This framework outlines the skills and personal qualities students are expected to develop. In the 2027-2028 school year, the district will transition to a unified diploma. This change phases out Regents Exams as a mandatory graduation requirement. Chowske explained that under a “do no harm” approach, Regents scores can improve a student’s final grade but cannot lower it. “We can use this in between time as a creative learning space,” Chowske said.

Pellettieri returned to the topic of safety at the close of the meeting. He reiterated that student safety is a priority for the district. He confirmed that the board would proceed with the investigation into the concerns raised by the parents.