By:Scott Brinton
The Central District recently added a ninth period at Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools.
Arnold Goldstein, the Central District's assistant superintendent for instruction, said that a ninth period would allow middle-school students to take a language class -- French, Italian or Spanish -- in seventh grade. Currently, languages are offered only in eighth grade.
Additionally, Goldstein said, students would be able to take one of four elective courses in eighth grade: Great Lives, examining famous and not-so-famous role models; Facing History through Film; Pop Culture; and International Foods. An eighth-grader could also take art and music simultaneously, which would limit the student's choice of electives.
Goldstein said that a ninth period would also provide greater class time for remedial students who have trouble passing important state exams.
Middle-school class periods would run for 41 minutes in a nine-period day. School would start four minutes earlier and end 11 minutes later.
District officials said that adding a ninth period for all district schools would bring Bellmore-Merrick in line with other similar Nassau school systems that place high academic expectations on students.
The addition of a ninth period would come at a price - $1.25 million a year, which would cover the 17 extra teachers needed to implement the program, Caramore said. The ninth period for middle-schoolers would add about 1 percent to the average school-tax bill, he said.
Residents would have to vote to expend the additional funds before the middle-school ninth period could begin. "We're hopeful the community will once again support us through the budget process," Goldstein said.
Later in the meeting, however, Steven Kozlowski, of the North Bellmore Civic Association, noted that many residents are growing increasingly frustrated with ever-increasing property taxes. Kozlowski, a real-estate agent, said that maintaining quality schools keeps property values up. But he noted that many local residents can no longer afford the school taxes and are moving out. "Every month, people are saying, 'What can we do? What can we do?'" Kozlowski said.
Caramore said that so much of what the Central District spends is out of local school officials' hands. He said that state aid for education has dropped significantly over the past three years. With less state aid, programs must be cut or taxes must go up, he said.
At the same time, fixed costs, such as teachers' benefits, have continued to rise, and the burden of paying for the schools has shifted even further from Class II and III properties -- businesses and utilities -- to Class I -- homes. Caramore said that homeowners used to pick up about 74 percent of the school-tax burden. But the state is increasing the responsibility to about 94 percent, a shift whose full effect is yet to be seen, he said.
"We are very responsible in our spending," Caramore said. "The public doesn't understand how many mandated expenses we have."
Kozlowski and the Board of Education left on amicable terms. Each agreed that the public needs to be better educated about the district's budgetary constraints. Ted Tanenbaum, a board trustee, suggested that Kozlowski attend the February budget review session and/or join the district's Lay Budget Advisory Committee, a group of residents that offers budget advice to the Board of Education. Kozlowski said he would do both.
In other news ...
Nick Fucci, of the Newbridge Road Elementary School PTA and the North Bellmore Civic Association, wondered why the Central District was charging the Newbridge PTA $650 for use of the Mepham High School auditorium for its upcoming annual Night of Stars.
The event showcases student acts. It's not a talent show. It's simply intended as an evening of fun, Fucci said. Mepham is used for the event because Newbridge Elementary doesn't have the necessary stage and auditorium facilities.
Fucci wondered why, if parents from the Newbridge PTA are Central District taxpayers, they must pay to use one of their own schools. Fucci also noted that 2005 is the first year that the district is charging the PTA a fee for the Night of Stars. In the past, Fucci said, he has made sure to tip the Mepham custodians on duty, even though they have generally done little except lock the auditorium doors at the end of the event.
Caramore explained that charging a fee to elementary PTAs for use of high-school facilities is not something Central officials want to do. Bellmore-Merrick's auditors mandated the policy because the Central District is separate from its component elementary districts -- Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore and North Merrick. So, if the Central District were to pay for elementary PTA functions, it would be taking money out of its budget to fund an elementary-school event.
Fucci wondered what costs the district would incur for the Night of Stars. Caramore said such a show requires additional custodians, who receive overtime pay. But Fucci said the event would take place on a Friday night, when there are custodians already on duty who could clean up after the event.
Caramore agreed to look into potentially reducing the fee, but he made no promises.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
