By:Scott Brinton
District officials note that these are funds the district already has in a special fund, so voting yes to the proposition won't add new money to the budget nor increase property taxes.
Among the proposed improvement projects are:
¥At Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore -- new ceilings and lights; replacement of a cement walkway outside the building; roof repair.
¥At Mepham High School in North Bellmore -- new lockers on the first and second floors; a new hot-water tank and oil pump; replacement of floor tiles in classrooms.
¥At Kennedy High School in Bellmore -- sidewalk repairs; auditorium renovations.
¥At Merrick Avenue Middle School in Merrick -- new ceilings and lights; science room renovations.
¥At Calhoun High School in North Merrick -- replacement of lockers on the second and third floors; ceiling replacement in the art wing; new treads on the stairwells and banisters; a new fence.
At this time last year, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District officials were reeling after the state announced that it planned to cut the district's $20.5 million education aid package by $4 million. It was the largest such reduction in any Nassau County school district.
This year, the Central District's aid outlook is brighter than 2003's, said schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Caramore. But, he noted, it still isn't bright. The district is projected to receive an increase in state aid of roughly $100,000. That figure, however, is $800,000 less than Central officials thought they would get.
State aid is critical, school officials say, because it helps reduce a district's budget, pays for student programming or reduces local property taxes. The aid comes from state income taxes. When aid falls short, officials say, they're forced to cut programs or raise property taxes. Caramore said he isn't yet sure what the $800,000 shortfall might mean for the Central District.
During the first in a series of public budget hearings last Wednesday, Caramore reviewed the Central District's proposed 2004-05 spending plan, which currently amounts to nearly $95 million.
Topping the district's list of new expenditures is the addition of a ninth period to the school day. To implement a nine-period day, Caramore said, 25 new teachers will have to be added to the Central District staff at a cost of $1.8 to $2 million. He also noted that the district will spend $600,000 more on transportation.
The superintendent said he believes the ninth period is needed to allow students to stay "competitive" with their peers in other districts that already have nine-period days. The ninth period, Board of Education members noted, will allow students to take courses that would not otherwise be open to them.
Janet Goller, the board's vice president, said the ninth period "is something we've been talking about for years, and the time is here."
School officials also said they project a $4 million increase in next year's budget for retirement, Social Security, Medicare and utilities. They also plan to spend about $270,000 more for new computers.
Caramore said the district will put the district's budget up for a vote as Proposition I in May. On the ballot, voters will also find Proposition II, which will ask them to vote yes or no on spending $2.64 million of district money to fund capital improvements around the district. (For a detailed list of the improvements, see box.)
The superintendent noted that Proposition II would not cost taxpayers anything additional. The proposal would be funded with unused capital-improvement money, dollars the district saved from previous improvement projects and never spent. If Proposition II gets shot down, the district must return the money to a capital reserve fund. It cannot use it to offset taxes, Caramore said.
Fran Brucato, of North Bellmore, wondered whether the Board of Education would consider adding security guards at each of the district's five schools. The guards, she said, would be a "good, visible deterrent" to possible crime. She noted that nearby school districts such as Wantagh, Massapequa and Bethpage employ security firms.
Caramore said the district has looked into hiring security guards. He projects the cost of hiring two security guards at each of the three high schools during the day only at $162,000 to $175,000 annually. To add security after school, when clubs and sports take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., would cost another $20,000, bringing the total to about $200,000 a year. With security at the two middle schools, the price would rise to about $240,000 to $250,000 a year.
The district hasn't committed to adding security. The Board of Education is studying the idea.
Caramore said it's too early to offer a projected tax rate for 2004-05.
