By Mike Russo
The school budget passed by a margin of 1,369 yes votes to 854 no's, the library budget, 1,374 to 748, and the EXCEL funding, 1,396 to 680. In addition, school board member Anne Hannon, running unopposed, was elected to a second term, with 1,740 votes.
The $110.8 million budget is 4.77 larger than this year's spending plan, and includes a relatively small 2.17 percent increase in the tax levy, which has been attributed to the hard work of the school board and larger-than-anticipated state aid. The budget maintains all existing instructional programs and class sizes.
Library officials avoided any increase in the budget, which totals $3.69 million. Shireen Abed was elected to the library board, as board president Kevin Kamen stepped down.
The EXCEL funding will make it possible for the district to apply for state aid on capital improvement projects and be reimbursed the following year. Projects planned for the district include the refurbishment of floors, ceilings and bathrooms, masonry repairs, the purchase of classroom projectors, the replacement of fire escapes and front entrances at the Shubert and Steele Schools, exterior brick work at Baldwin Middle School and a new fire alarm system at Baldwin High School. The only cost to the district will be that of borrowing the money initially, estimated at between $50,000 and $75,000.
"I am very pleased that the budget passed," said interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas Caramore. "It demonstrates the community's commitment to the educational success of our students. I also thank residents for supporting the EXCEL proposition, which will allow us to obtain state aid for capital projects that would otherwise need to be placed in the school budget."
"We are very pleased that the budget passed," said board President James Scannell. " We are very pleased for the additional state aid we received, and we thank the community for its support of the budget."
Mary Jo O'Hagan, vice president of the school board, added, "We are very pleased that the budget passed, and it gives us a good spending plan to go forward into the next year. We are particularly happy that the EXCEL proposition passed as well."
The budget's approval by voters, said Frank Fiumano, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, "shows that the community has confidence in the district."
Hannon, who was elected to her second term on the Board of Education, said, "I am grateful to the community for supporting us and the children and the community." She added that the board's main goal now is to hire a superintendent who will be committed to the community (Caramore has a waiver from the state to be the interim superintendent until June 30), put the EXCEL money to good use and keep up the fiscally sound job that the board is trying to do.
"We are very pleased to have her remain a member of our team," said Scannell. "She has really been a productive member of the board."
"I'm delighted," O'Hagan said of Hannon. "She has done everything that is required of her and has proven herself to be a very passionate board member."
Caramore said, "I congratulate Anne Hannon on her election to another term on the Board of Education, and thank her for her tireless efforts on behalf of the district."
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
