By Nancy Hiler
The spending plans represents a 6.99 percent increase over this year's budget. Assistant to the Superintendent Toni Ann Cincotta presented the budget, saying that the numbers were lower and the cuts were greater until the "good news" came from Albany on April 1, when passage of the on-time state budget infused an extra $800,000 in state aid into North Bellmore's budget. Specifically, state aid was increased from $9.7 million to $10.5 million. Cincotta said that half of those dollars went to restore programs and services the administration had planned to cut, while the other half "was given back to the taxpayers."
Included in the $38,854,697 budget is $450,000 for a new roof at Jacob Gunther School. That will be presented as a separate capital reserve proposition on the ballot when the community vote takes place on Tuesday, May 16, at Newbridge Road School.
Cincotta said that the budget "would result in a proposed 6.35 percent tax levy increase, the figure that drives the school tax." She said the levy would mean an estimated rate (the actual adjusted base proportion is not set until August) of $290.55 per $100 of assessed value for homeowners, or total taxes of about $3,105.98 for the average home assessment of $427,000, as per the Nassau County Assessor's Office.
Cincotta pointed out that the prospect of a state-mandated 4 percent contingency budget, should the district proposal be defeated, would dictate $1.1 million in cuts directly affecting the children, while still calling for about $2,985 from the average homeowner. The difference between the proposed budget and an austerity plan would be about $120 for the year for the typical taxpayer, she said.
Superintendent of Schools Dominic Mucci thanked Cincotta, other administration officials, the six school principals, the teachers, and the parents and community members who attended budget workshops over the past few weeks, saying that the "input is important to us." He was referring to several animated discussions over possible cuts in teaching staff, library services and instrumental music instruction, all of which have been restored in the current proposed budget. A variety of additions as well as cuts were considered during what Board of Education Vice President Joe Perrone called a "collaborative effort to pull in new ideas" from everyone in the community.
For the most part, the budget maintains current levels of service in all curriculum and support services areas, with staff development and an existing Balanced Literacy Program receiving added dollars. Some debated enhancements have been kept, including a scaled back sixth-grade-only pilot foreign-language program, a new microscope/science enhancement program and increased social worker services while others, including the addition of a floating nurse, were eliminated. The budget calls for reduced funding for conferences, the district newsletter, custodial services through attrition, and computer hardware and software, the elimination of two bus runs, and deferred spending for classroom furniture and equipment.
Board of Education President Mary Oporto said she is pleased the proposed budget continues a long-held philosophy in the North Bellmore district. "The focus has always been on the children," she said. The proposed budget is split into the three state-mandated categories as follows - 79.86 percent program, 10.70 percent administrative, and 9.44 percent capital. "Cuts that were made," Oporto added, "were those that least affect the children."
The public is invited to hear the full budget presentation at a meeting of their choice sponsored by the school PTAs, as follows: April 10, 7 p.m., Dinkelmeyer; April 25, 7:30 p.m., Saw Mill Road; May 3, 7:30 p.m., Gunther; May 9, 7 p.m., Park Avenue; May 11, 7 p.m. Newbridge Road; and May 12, 7:30 p.m., Martin Avenue. The last day of voter registration is May 11 at the nearest school. The budget vote takes place Tuesday, May 16.
In other district news...
Six teachers were granted tenure during the April 6 North Bellmore Board of Education meeting -Marianne Divine, Jennifer Ecuyer, Robin Obey, Bill Green, Roseann Retmanski, and Antonietta Fischetti (the latter, whose Saw Mill faculty had a scheduling conflict, will be congratulated personally at the next meeting). Superintendent Dominic Mucci said that the district does not take tenure lightly. He added that each of one the individuals are well respected and possessed a commitment to excellence, sentiments echoed by their respective building principals, faculty and PTA representatives as well as Board of Education trustees.
Director of Facilities Chris Milano reported that three school building roof replacements were nearing completion, and that the resurfacing of playgrounds and testing of all fire alarms would take place at all the schools over the spring break. Dr. Marilyn Johnson said that writing facilitators at each of the buildings were in the process of updating the writing section of report cards to better reflect the Step-Up-to-Writing program curriculum.
