W.H. school district to try budget vote again

    On the rebound from taxpayers’ rejection of the proposed school budget last month, West Hempstead school district administrators hustled to put together a revised proposal that voters would approve.
    They cut the spending increase by about 85 percent, which in turn reduced the tax levy increase by nearly half. The result is a $52.8 million spending plan with a 4.9 percent tax levy increase.
    The first proposed budget, which had a tax levy increase of 9.4 percent, failed by 658 votes. The Board of Education adopted the revised budget on May 25.
    The administration cut about $1.65 million from the plan, used about $1 million in reserve funds to defray taxes and eliminated five staff positions, all intramural sports and a number of educational and athletic programs.
    “I feel saddened that we needed to cut some educational programs,” said Superintendent John Hogan. “While I’m saddened, I think that we have maintained the integrity of the academic program, and that really was our main goal as we started to look at the cuts that were going to be made.”
    The high school wrestling team, the elementary school science laboratory and foreign language programs were eliminated, as well as the Technology Enrichment and Gifted & Talented programs. Additional reductions were made in appropriations for building inspections and materials and supplies.
    “The programs and services that were removed from the budget were important pieces of the district’s curriculum and have provided a great benefit to our students,” said board member Tony Brita. “When the economy rebounds and the district’s financial situation is improved, the school board will make every effort to restore these programs and services to our students.”