The Manhasset School District will now be observing the holiday of Diwali and granting students the day off after months of community advocacy.
“We deeply value the rich diversity of our community and the many cultural and religious traditions that make it so vibrant,” Superintendent Gaurav Passi said.
The Manhasset Board of Education voted Thursday night to amend its school calendar to schedule a superintendent’s conference day for Diwali, giving students a day off from school and enabling them to observe the holiday.
The holiday will be observed for this school year. This year, Diwali is celebrated on Friday, Nov. 1
Members of the local Indian community, who celebrate Diwali, advocated for the school to observe the holiday during board of education meetings last school year. They presented petitions from students and the community.
Passi said calendar restraints prohibit the district from observing every holiday, which is why Diwali was not previously included on the calendar.
“While we may not be able to honor every tradition with a day off, we are continually seeking meaningful ways to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse cultures represented in our community,” Passi said. “From school-based events and cultural programs, we want to ensure our students’ traditions are recognized and valued throughout the school year.”
The board also discussed a consulting agreement with the Center for Forensic and Clinical Psychology to train staff on behavioral threat assessment and management. The district would also be able to consult with the center’s doctor when responding to threats and completing threat assessments.
The board opted to table a decision on the contract until it is reviewed by the district’s safety committee.
Passi said the behavioral threat assessment includes three steps: identifying individuals who pose a potential threat, gathering information to assess the threat and intervention. He called it a proactive safety approach.
“This training will add an important layer to our proactive safety efforts by equipping our staff to assess the seriousness of a student’s behavior, respond appropriately to prevent violence and address the underlying issues that may lead to threats,” Passi said.
The training informs staff on how to assess statements or concerning behaviors and how to seek out the appropriate resources to address them.
“This process will aid us in diffusing situations before they escalate, ensuring a safer environment for our students and staff,” Passi said.
Passi said there has been an uptick in threats throughout the county but that police have determined none to be credible. He said the Manhasset School District has not had any threats.
The board also discussed its district goals and priorities for the school year.
Priorities included inspiring growth for students, connecting through strong relationships, supporting growth for educators and upgrading security and facilities. While Passi said strides have already been made in these areas, the district is looking to expand it even further.
Passi said the district is seeking to host community town halls where stakeholders can provide input on school initiatives as a way to achieve connections through strong relationships.
One initiative the district is assessing to promote school safety is potentially hiring a safety company for security management and training consultations.
The complete list is on the school district’s website.
This story was edited on Oct. 8 to correct inaccuracies. It was originally reported that the school district’s agreement with the Center for Forensic and Clinical Psychology provides resources to students and families. This is incorrect. It was also reported that the district is seeking to hire private security. This was clarified to express that the district is actually looking into the services of a security company for security management and training consultations.