Tensions over decorum emerge at school board meeting

MAHOPAC, N.Y. —Tensions simmered over school taxes and actions one trustee characterized as “personal attacks” at the Mahopac School Board’s Jan. 28 meeting, where the administration presented a first draft of the district’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

During the public comment period near the end of the meeting, Trustee Ben Dilullo made a statement calling out what he described unfair attacks on the integrity of the district’s administration.

“At all meetings, we require communicating with respect and decorum,” Dillulo said. “The exact expectations should also apply to other communications with the board and district administration; however, in recent months, this has not been the case.

“The board has received communication that includes specific personal attacks against the administration,” he continued. “In addition, public comments have been made filled with reprehensible malicious attacks and misinformation that are driven by agendas that have nothing to do with the welfare and education of our children but rather instead to cause and pain.”

Nicole Iacono spoke on several of the points raised during the meeting, expressing the opinion that approving a policy that would more time for public comment would make it more inviting for community members to give input. She concluded by seeming to reference DiLullo’s earlier comments about decorum. 

“This is a role that you guys have been elected to by the community, and you should always want to hear feedback from said community,” Iacono said. “If you can’t handle that responsibility and the criticism that comes from that, maybe for your own mental health, maybe this isn’t a position you should be in.” 

Earlier in the public comment period, former MCSD Trustee Lucy Massafra asked the board to consider a zero percent tax levy for the upcoming year, pointing to the rising cost of living expenses for families while noting that the district finished the last fiscal year with a budget surplus.

A new private Facebook group called School Tax Forcing You Out launched recently, with members reportedly planning to attend the district’s Finance Subcommittee Meeting on the evening of Feb. 4 (after this edition went to press). Find coverage at News. HalstonMedia.com. Carmel town Councilman Robert Kearns told Mahopac News he plans to attend.

Massafra later told Mahopac News the board should look at some its reserves, including a roughly $10.1 million rtax certiorariund that had been set aside against having to return past taxes collected on NYC reservoir lands—an issue that was settled in 2024—along with other reserve funds that could theoretically be used to ease the tax burden on residents. She said she has spoken at several meetings encouraging the board to take a line-by-line approach to the budget and hoped that would happen at Tuesday’s Finance Subcommittee meeting.

“From 2014-15 to 2018-19 tax levy was below 1%,” Massafra said. “Many of us would like to see them at least try to get to that number.” 

At the close of the meeting, Mahopac parent and Putnam County Democratic Committee Chair Jen Colamonico offered a different perspective, saying she was pleased with the district. 

“The voice of satisfied parents is often drowned out,” Colamonico said. “I have had a fantastic experience as a parent in this school. My children, thus far, have had very successful experiences. I think I represent a lot of people who are satisfied with the school district and the opportunities it presents.”

Budget, round 1

The discussion came after Assistant Superintendent for Finance Alyssa Murray outlined the district’s $97 million preliminary budget, which currently proposes a 2.1% tax levy increase, remaining below the state’s 2.9% inflation rate.

The board will continue budget discussions in February and March, with a final vote scheduled for May 6. The annual budget vote and school board election will take place on May 20.

Murray said key priorities include maintaining small class sizes, replacing school buses, and funding safety and infrastructure improvements. The district also plans to renovate 26 school bathrooms and update athletic facilities.

Two logo replacements on the turf fields were a subject of discussion. Planning is underway to replace the prior Mahopac team mascot from the middle school turf field and practice turf at the high school. This turf replacement needs to be completed by June 30 of this year to comply with state requirements that forced the school district, now known as the Wolf Pac, from its old nickname of Indians. Murray said the money for that project is already allocated as part of last year’s budget. 

After a public hearing, the board approved a measure to extend real property tax exemptions to Cold War Veterans, volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers who volunteer in neighboring districts. These exemptions come in addition to those implemented previously. 

Safety initiatives

Superintendent Christine Tona highlighted the district’s first-ever Safety Symposium, which took place the day before, where Putnam County law enforcement and school safety experts provided updates on security enhancements. 

“It really is amazing to see how far we’ve come in a short amount of time in making our district safer for our students,” Tona said. 

The policy committee has been discussing reforming public comment rules to give residents more speaking time. 

“[This] proposal basically changes the language, strengthens it for the public to have more power, and gets rid of all the unfriendly restrictive language that is in our current policy,” said Trustee Tanner McCracken. 

The proposed new policy will be discussed again in a board working session before it is put on a future agenda for a vote. 

The policy committee is also discussing a potential ban on electioneering by school board candidates on district property, but it is not yet ready to put it to a vote. 

The board also announced plans for a town hall on student cell phone policies, following guidance from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on regulating phone use in schools.

Students shine

Before delving into budgets, safety, and policy, the school board took time to recognize student achievement.

Cameron Hart, the Mahopac High School student government executive president, reported on recent college planning events, career exploration programs, and the district’s science research competition. Four students recently competed in the Taconic Hills Invitational Science Fair, earning top awards in plant sciences, behavioral sciences, and STEM research. 

On Jan. 13, Mahopac’s guidance department hosted a college planning session featuring representatives from Binghamton University, Western Connecticut State University, Westchester Community College, and Iona University. The event was recorded and can be watched online by interested parents and students. 

Athletic Director Steven Luciana highlighted Mahopac’s fall sports achievements, announcing that every varsity team had earned New York State Scholar-Athlete Team recognition, meaning at least 75% of athletes maintained a 90% GPA or higher.

“It shows what tremendous athletes we have here and what a great staff we have. Not only do our athletes do well on the field, they excel in the classroom.” Luciana said.