Aitken opposed in ed board re-election bid

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Manhasset Board of Education President Patricia Aitken faces opposition in an at-large election next month.

Aitken, who was frst elected to the board in 2005, squares of against challenger Ted Post in the at-large election May 16. Immediate eforts to reach the candidates for comment were unavailing.

Aitken was named president of the board in 2019, succeeding former trustee Regina Rule, who served in the role for six years.

Aitken, during the 2020 election against district resident Evan Mandery, discussed how the coronavirus pandemic had impacted the school district and helped guide Manhasset through the pandemic.

District residents will also be voting on Manhasset’s budget, which has not been adopted. Offcials most recently presented a $107.7 million budget for the 2023-24 school year, a 3% increase from the current budget, which does not exceed the allowed 2.97% tax levy increase.

The tentative budget increased by more than $3 million, while the tax levy grew from $94.3 million in 2022 to $97.1 million this year, according to ofcials. The driving forces of the budget’s growth include a $1.8 million total increase