Voters approve $113.4 million school budget

The hallway outside the main office at Glen Cove High School was tense, with all eyes fixed on the white board and district Superintendent Maria Rianna as she tallied the results of the 2024-25 school budget vote. When it was evident that it had passed, Rianna was exuberant, throwing her arms in the air and then thanking community members for their support.
The spending plan, totaling roughly $114 million, passed with 689 votes in favor and 392 against, and will, district official say, ensure the thorough education and safety of the district’s 3,000 students across its six schools. The budget’s highlights include increased funding for special education, all existing programs, health insurance, and other essential services to address rising costs.
Proposition 2, which garnered 711 “yes” votes and 332 “nos,” will establish a new capital reserve fund with a maximum allocation of $30 million over 15 years. This money will support improvements to classrooms as well as the high school auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria and library, and technology upgrades.
Proposition 3, which passed with 714 votes for and 313 against, will allowing the district to utilize $9 million from an existing capital reserve fund established in 2019. It will address critical infrastructure projects, including extensions at the Deasy and Landing schools, new classroom construction, new furniture, parking lot improvements, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps at Thayer House, among other upgrades.
“It’s faith in the future,” Rianna said. “Those who indicated that we should open the other reserve are really supportive of future renovations, and (the proposition) allows us to do that without an impact to the community and to the taxes. I’m very grateful that we were given that support.”
Anne Markoulis, Maureen Jimenez and Meghan Lavine were elected to the Board of Education, all running uncontested. They received 789, 772 and 748 votes, respectively.
The largest budget item is for general education instruction, totaling over $31 million. Special education costs amount to roughly $22.2 million.