Seaford schools look to a bright future

Despite challenges over the past five years, the Seaford School district is moving forward. “We are optimistic about the future,” Superintendent of School Brian Conboy told residents at the Board of Education’s March 12 workshop meeting.

“We had five tough years. But we worked hard to retain instructional integrity and now we can build back,” Conboy said, referring to the proposed restorations in programs and services included in the 2015-16 budget.

These restorations will be made without piercing the tax levy cap limit of 2.28 percent and without knowing how much money New York state will provide to the district next year. State aid for the current school year was at 17 percent of the district’s total budget and Conboy said, “We were told it could be 1.7 percent or a 2 percent increase, but we are planning a zero increase.”

On March 12, the four building principals made presentations to the Board of Education and provided examples of how each school has faced the district’s financial challenges with ingenuity and hard work. They also provided the public with examples of how the restorations will help to promote student achievement and foster educational excellence.

From the elementary schools, Seaford Harbor Principal Donna DeLucia-Troisi and Manor Principal Debra Emmerich said that despite the financial challenges, the elementary schools still provided a variety of clubs and enrichment programs, sponsored by the PTA, parents and the community, to make the school experience more inviting. But there have been challenges including larger class sizes as well as diminished resources for students.

To address these concerns, the board is proposing to hire two teachers, a library specialist and a social worker at the elementary schools.

“I am thrilled to see a library media specialist,” DeLucia-Troisi said. “It’s been very challenging this year with someone [here] every other week. Librarians do so much. It’s not just about books. The demand for research skills is increasing. They can do so much with SmartBoards and share with kids. The kids miss those weekly trips to get their books. We want eyes on print.”

Additionally, DeLucia-Troisi said the social worker “can help those children still suffering the effects of Sandy. There are also more demands on parents and some children need a little extra.”

Emmerich agreed. “A full time social worker is a dream come true,” she said, adding that the hiring of additional teachers to reduce class sizes “is tremendously important for our students.”

Conboy said the additional teachers will “keep class size at the elementary schools in the low 20s.”

Middle School Principal Daniel Smith said that in spite of cuts, “We doubled our science and math acceleration programs, have two Science Olympiad teams and a vital music program including an updated keyboard lab.” He said the students were involved in a wide array of community causes and pointed to his “awesome staff that are determined to do great things.”

However, the Seaford Middle School interscholastic athletics program was cut in the 2011-12 school year. For the 2015-16 school year, the district seeks to restore the sports program. “We want to give kids the opportunity to put on the green and white and compete,” Conboy said. “They look forward to that. You develop pride.”

Smith agreed. “It will be great to bring it back,” he said.

At Seaford High School, Principal Scott Bersin said “the past years have been difficult with the loss of our chairpersons, which is core to our mission, but we are still advancing with a lot of hard work.”

Bersin pointed to a graduation rate of 93 percent, and that “we have almost no dropouts. Ninety-six percent of our students go on to two- or four-year schools.” Additionally, more students are in Advanced Placement classes, and this year’s graduating class has some “great college acceptances including two at MIT and Columbia and Vassar,” he said.

The proposed 2015-16 budget will restore 12 secondary department chairs and will also provide an additional half-time social worker on the secondary level. The budget also includes two secondary special education teachers.

“With your support, we can do great things,” Conboy told residents, while urging them to attend the next two budget workshops. Due to the lack of state aid projections, officials did not release the tentative budget total, although they are looking at a tentative spending increase of 1.2 percent. This year’s budget is $62.6 million.

The March 19 meeting will review of the facilities and technology portions of the budget and on March 26 the board will look at revenue and likely adopt a budget that will go before the voters on May 19. Upcoming meetings are held at the Seaford Manor School and begin at 7:30 p.m.