By AMANDA HOFFMANN
The commission, headed by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, has recommended consolidating districts with fewer than 1,000 students in an effort to slow the steady rise of property taxes across the state.
The 134-page final report of the Commission on Property Tax Relief—the result of 14 public meetings, nine regional roundtables and other formal and informal meetings—breaks down the underlying causes of rising property taxes and offers strategies to cut costs. One of the report’s more than 30 recommendations is the consolidation of smaller school districts, which could save taxpayers money while increasing educational opportunities for students in the larger districts consolidation would create.
The report follows up on a draft released in June, which recommended, among other things, a cap on school district property tax increases.
"The belief is that consolidation of smaller school districts would have economic benefits as well as improve educational quality," said Arda Nazerian, senior policy advisor to Suozzi. "In the public testimony, it became apparent the bigger districts offer a greater diversity of educational programming for the students."
The Island Park district currently serves approximately 700 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, according to an estimate by district Superintendent Edward Price. Another 300 students in grades 9 through 12 grade are bused to high schools in Long Beach, Oceanside and West Hempstead because the district does not have its own high school.
"We contract the kids out, but they are part of our budget," Price explained. Referring to the commission’s recommendation of consolidation, he added, "I think we are exempt, but that's my interpretation."
Nazerian said it would be up to the state education department to determine whether Island Park fits the criteria for consolidation. "Those kinds of decisions are up to the Department of Education and will be dealt with district by district," she said.
Island Park could likely be incorporated into districts in Oceanside, Long Beach or West Hempstead or some combination. The Oceanside district has approximately 6,200 students, Long Beach has about 4,000, and West Hempstead has about 2,350. Nearly 300 students from Island Park already attend high schools in those districts.
"We must do a careful study for all the districts that would be involved before proceeding with that kind of recommendation," Price said. "You don't do things haphazardly. It's easy to make broad statements about savings without having done a careful study."
Price said one potential concern that would come with a potential merger is that each district negotiates salaries and contracts differently. A teacher hired this year, with a bachelor’s degree but no experience, signs on at $53,945 in Island Park, $45,000 in Oceanside and $53,912 in Long Beach. West Hempstead Superintendent John Hogan said he did not have that figure available.
“Terms and conditions of employment varies, sick days, personal days, contributions to health benefits, days off,” said Long Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Greenberg. “Each contract is idiosyncratic to that particular school district and union.
When you start to compare contracts, there are so many different iterations you can uncover.”
Price said that the decision ultimately should be made by voters in the district, because they would feel the impact of a merger most directly. "A study would have the advantages and disadvantages listed, and the voters could decide," he said. "Last I heard, this is a democracy."
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