No program cuts slated for Oceanside’s school budget

Oceanside School District officials predict the 2020-21 budget will increase about 2.51 percent from the 2019-20 budget and maintain all current programs, they said at the Board of Education meeting on March 4.

Officials also announced that Oceanside’s allowable tax levy limit for 2020-21 is 3.44 percent. However, they did not yet disclose an actual, proposed tax levy or total budget number.

Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Harrington and Assistant Superintendent of Business Jerel Cokley presented the programs component of the proposed budget, which comprises 78 percent of the spending plan. They included cost increases for travel for teacher trainings, science and math textbooks, medical monitors, BOCES and vocational tuition and psychiatric services at the new Northwell Behavioral Health Center, which is in Rockville Centre and open to all students.

The next budget meeting is March 18, and the proposed spending plan will be adopted on April 1. Then, there is a budget hearing on May 6. All meetings are held in the School No. 6 auditorium at 7 p.m.

The budget vote is May 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is only one voting location this year, at the Merle Avenue School No. 6 gymnasium.