MPSD Administrative Positions Update

As you may have heard, Catherine Honeyman, Principal of Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School, has recently accepted a new position as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Plainedge Public Schools starting August 12, 2019. During her 13 years at LADSBS, Mrs. Honeyman’s countless contributions to curriculum development have been advantageous for the District’s third through fifth grade students. Her leadership has added to our District’s reputation for educational excellence, and educating the whole child socially, emotionally, and academically. We are grateful to have had Mrs. Honeyman work on our team and wish her the very best in her new endeavor.

Following a search process, which included interviews of both internal and external candidates by an administrative committee and members of the Board of Education, the Board has appointed Mr. Christopher Herrschaft as the new principal of LADSBS beginning on August 9, 2019.  

With more than 15 years of experience in the education field, Mr. Herrschaft has contributed to improving teaching and learning for our students as both an educator and administrator in the District. A Miller Place High School graduate, Mr. Herrschaft most recently served as Assistant Principal of North Country Road Middle School. Throughout his time working in the high school, Mr. Herrschaft served as a business education teacher beginning in 2007 and was later named Dean of Students in 2015.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2001 from Bryant University, Mr. Herrschaft completed a Masters of Science in Secondary Education at Dowling College in 2006, and earned a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Niagara University in 2016.

The District is excited for Mr. Herrschaft, and are confident his leadership at LADSBS will continue to advance our elementary school, and our District, forward in delivering an exceptional educational experience to the children of the Miller Place School District community. Mr. Herrschaft will be reaching out to the LADSBS community in the coming weeks as he transitions from NCRMS to LADSBS.

Miller Place High School Named ‘School of Excellence’

Miller Place High School (MPHS) was recognized by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. (NYSPHAA) as a 2018-19 School of Excellence winner for its exceptional performance in academics and athletics. This year, MPHS was among 135 schools throughout the State selected for this distinction.

“This recognition is a testimony to our student-athletes’ and administration’s talents and determination on the field and in the classrooms,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place School District. “These students are models of the standard of academic and athletic excellence characteristic of our school district. Congratulations!”

NYSPHSAA presents high schools with the School of Excellence Award when 75 percent of the varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete award, a distinction that requires a cumulative grade point average greater than or equal to 90.00. For the 2018-19 school year, Miller Place had 21 varsity teams receive the Scholar-Athlete team award.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us and ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

Miller Place School District Effectively Refinances 2010 Space Bond

The Miller Place School District (MPSD) is proud to announce that it will be saving nearly $2.3 million dollars over the next 11 years by refinancing its 2010 space bond. The savings were made possible by Miller Place’s planning, budgeting practices and consistently strong Moody’s Bond Rating of Aa2.

“The District’s refinancing of the outstanding bond debt is reflective of our strong financial stewardship and continued trajectory of success,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place School District. “We have worked diligently to improve our short and long-term financial outlook while effectively maintaining and advancing our high-quality educational programs and services.”


MPSD received a total of eleven bids and Mesirow Financial, Inc. was the winning bidder. This resulted in the District’s original 3.92% interest rate on the bonds being lowered to a true interest rate of 1.63%.  The District’s Moody Bond Rating of Aa2 will allow the District to experience $2,289,950 in total budgetary savings over the next 11 years. Moving forward, the District will continue to monitor its outstanding debt to take advantage of any budgetary savings that can be achieved through refinancing.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website atwww.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

MP Athletes Recognized at Butch Dellecave Outstanding Athlete Banquet

Miller Place School District (MPSD) would like to commend the excellence of its senior student athletes, Ryan Salvia and Ava Burns, who were selected to represent the District as nominees for the Butch Dellecave Award at the 19th Annual Butch Dellecave Outstanding Athlete banquet.

Hosted by the Butch Dellecave Foundation Inc. and The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc, the event honored scholar athletes from every Suffolk County school district for their athleticism, character and integrity. With their friends and families, Ryan and Ava joined 55 other nominees for an honorary breakfast at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Nominees were individually recognized and presented with a plaque to commemorate their honor on this special day.

In the fall, Ryan will be attending SUNY Maritime where he will run cross country. Ava will be heading upstate to Syracuse University where she will play on the women’s lacrosse team.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.