Bellmore-Merrick, Merrick and North Merrick budgets pass

Taxpayers in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District voted to approve a nearly $197.5 million budget for the 2024-25 school year.

This budget affects John F. Kennedy, Sanford H. Calhoun and Wellington C. Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools.

3,748 votes approved next year’s spending plan.

District administrators said the goal of the budget is to maintain current programs and services, address and increasing need for student support services, maintain and upgrade infrastructure, while continuing to provide safety and security for students and staff.

“It’s important to do what we always do when we make our budget,” Mikaela Coni, the district’s assistant superintendent for business said, “and that’s make sure the decisions we make now are sustainable for the future.”

In the elementary districts, North Merrick voters approved a $41 million budget, and Merrick voters approved a $63 million budget.

Seats on the North Merrick board of education were uncontested. Incumbents Kathy Moran and Mary Keene were re-elected with 468 and 507 votes respectively.

In Merrick, incumbents Nancy Kaplan, Linda Wilk and Butch Yamali were re-elected to the board of education,. They ran on platforms rooted in their knowledge of the district. They earned 1,283, 1,065 and 895 votes respectively.

“My knowledge, experience and relationships enable to me to provide informed guidance to our educational leaders,” Kaplan said.

“I am honored and dedicated to making the Merrick School District even better,” Wilk said.

“I want to make sure that parents have a voice in the educational decisions that affect our children,” Yamali said.