By Dina M. Anzalone
After nearly two decades serving the Hewlett-Woodmere community, I’ve learned one essential truth: The strength of our schools depends not just on the decisions we make, but on who participates in making them. Today, as we face unprecedented financial challenges, this lesson has never been more important.
Our district, like many across New York, stands at a crossroads. The expiration of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, declining enrollment, skyrocketing transportation costs and a tax levy cap that fails to keep pace with inflation have created a perfect storm. State aid remains uncertain, and the foundation aid formula continues to shift beneath our feet. Make no mistake: no one is coming to rescue us. We must chart our own course.
This reality makes it vital for our school community to be part of the conversation, early and often. Yet on Nov. 6, when we hosted School Budget 101: Funding the Future, only 25 people attended. While I’m grateful for those who came, including our dedicated Board of Education members, this turnout highlights a troubling pattern I’ve witnessed throughout my career: Community members often emerge only when they disagree with a budget already adopted in April.
I understand why. Budget discussions seem technical and intimidating. People are busy. And frankly, it’s easier to stay engaged when everything is going well. But here’s what I’ve learned through difficult budget cycles: When districts face tough decisions, communicating with transparency and candor becomes the foundation of trust that carries us through.
Let me be clear about what we’re facing. Our budget is the numerical expression of the district’s mission, vision, values and goals. Show me your budget and I’ll show you what your district values. With 72.2 percent of our budget devoted to staffing, we are fundamentally in the people business. This means that when cuts become necessary, they impact real educators, programs and students. Whether it’s arts, athletics or academics, every reduction represents something meaningful.
It feels like a no-win situation. But the correct strategies can help us navigate turbulent financial seas. The turbulence doesn’t come from the cuts themselves; it comes from uncertainty, from decisions that seem to come from behind closed doors.
That’s why our school board begins public budget sessions every November. Each month we meet publicly to build a collaborative budget planning process that demystifies how resources are allocated. We conduct comprehensive audits of spending patterns, seeking efficiencies that don’t compromise educational quality. We prioritize cutting items that don’t directly impact students.
But we alone can’t generate the creative solutions that come from diverse perspectives. When stakeholders participate in the process, they bring insights that administrators and board members might never see. They ask questions that sharpen our thinking. They hold us accountable in ways that strengthen rather than undermine our work.
A school budget is much like a house. Each year, we inspect the foundation, the beams, the roof, checking that the infrastructure can support the weight, or the whole thing will come crashing down. Similarly, we must ensure fiscal responsibility, checking that we’re neither overspending nor shortchanging any area. And just as you wouldn’t renovate a house without consulting the people who live there, the plan we build requires input from those who inhabit our district: our families, staff, students and community members.
I know our community cares deeply about Hewlett-Woodmere schools. But for our district to truly thrive during this challenging period and beyond, we need more than care. We need partnership. And partnership requires showing up, listening and taking part in the conversations that shape our schools.
Financial difficulties are never easy. But approaching them strategically and transparently helps maintain trust and keeps us focused on our core mission: serving students. Long-term financial stability requires both immediate action and strategic planning, best achieved when both the district and community are fully engaged.
I ask you to join us, not only when challenges arise, but also when we celebrate all that is wonderful about our schools and students. Attend our budget sessions. Ask questions. Share your ideas. Help us identify what matters most and where creative solutions might exist. Your presence strengthens us. Your voice guides us. Your partnership inspires us.
Together we can ensure that our schools remain a beacon of excellence, places of opportunity, growth and pride for generations to come. The conversation starts now. Will you be part of it?
Dr. Dina M. Anzalone is superintendent of Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools.
