East Meadow school budget is ready for voters

The East Meadow School District’s nearly $238 million budget proposed for 2023-24 was created with both the present and the future in mind.

The spending plan includes an increase in the tax levy — the total amount in taxes that will be collected from district taxpayers — of 2.84 percent.

“Some of the general pieces of how our tax cap works (is) that you have last year’s numbers bounced against this year’s numbers,” Patrick Pizzo, assistant superintendent for business and finance, said. “If you have a big exclusion (this) year, it’s going to be balanced out next year — so that’s why our budget process is really planning three, five-plus years down the road. What you do today will affect tomorrow.”

Joining Pizzo at a May 3 budget hearing to offer insight into the plan were Anthony Russo, assistant superintendent for personnel and administration; Jennifer Frisenda, assistant business administrator; and Superintendent Kenneth Card.

There are three parts to the budget: administration, which encompasses things like board and budget vote expenses, legal services, employee benefits and administration; the capital portion, which includes debt service, maintenance, repairs and renovations, support service and employee benefits; and the program aspect, which encompasses the majority of programs for students.

The proposal accounts for inflation, rising health insurance premiums and such. It details a 4.06 percent increase in expenses.

“I like to say that if there’s a nickel under a rock somewhere, we’re looking to flip over that rock and put that nickel to use for our students,” Pizzo said. “We are always looking at efficiencies. Anything that we can do to try to limit the cost on what we’re doing administratively so the funds we have can go towards the students.”

The district received roughly $73.6 million in state aid for the 2023-24 school year, which is an increase of over $16 million from that received for 2022-23.

The 2023-24 budget maintains class sizes within district guidelines, provides continuing professional staff development, and continues implementation of technology initiatives. It allows for capital programs for health and safety concerns, and provides for a sports field maintenance program and new equipment.

It maintains all current instructional and co-curricular programs in kindergarten through 12th grade, such as college and advanced placement level programs, performing music programs, athletic and science programs, remedial and academic intervention services, summer school, and the elementary summer learning program.

The budget also continues the integration of the co-teaching program in the elementary level that was introduced to the district. ICT classrooms consist of a general education teacher and a special education teacher providing instruction together to students who have learning disabilities and those who don’t.

It also allows for four more general education teachers and two special education teachers, if needed, due to increased enrollment for the elementary level. For the secondary level the budget allows for one special education teacher and two English as a New Language teachers, if needed, also due to increased enrollment, and roughly four teachers for various secondary subject areas due to enrollment numbers and course selection.

Capital improvements are set for all district buildings, including the Salisbury Center in some capacity. Barnum Woods will have maintenance done. Bowling Green Elementary School will be getting a new basketball court and tarmac along with new flags. At Meadowbrook Elementary School, two full-size classrooms will be divided into four small-group instructional spaces. Parkway Elementary School will get an extended parking lot and other maintenance. McVey Elementary School will have six renovated bathrooms and repaired classroom doors.

Woodland Middle School will get upgraded auditorium lighting and ceiling tiles. Clarke Middle School will be getting new auditorium lighting, additional REACH classrooms, and renovations to the technology wood shop rooms.

Clarke High School will have alterations done to the library, repaired gym bleachers, and upgraded auditorium lighting. East Meadow High School will get new curbing, renovated gym locker rooms, and other maintenance.

“We hope that everyone exercises their right to vote and shows up to the polls on May 16,” Card said.

The budget vote will be on May 16 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at any of the district’s five elementary schools: Barnum Woods, Bowling Green, McVey, Meadowbrook, and Parkway.

Visit the district website at EMUFSD.us under the Board of Education tab to find more budget information.