By Anthony Rifilato
The Board of Education adopted the 2006-07 school budget last week, with the surprising additions of two registered nurses and a part-time nurse for the entire district following a petition calling for more R.N.'s.
"Now a nurse will be present at all of the district's schools," said Gene Levenstien, interim assistant superintendent for business and administrative services. "By adding the half-time nurse, there will be a nurse in the same building all day."
The additions to the $99.8 million budget come after more than 200 parents and residents signed a petition earlier this month calling for more nurses in the schools.
Initially, administrators had proposed adding one registered nurse and a health aide, but at last week's budget meeting, the board said it recognized the need for more R.N.'s in the schools, and would add another full-time nurse as well as a part-time R.N.
The addition of the nurses consists of $75,000 of the budget, but would also include cutting three health aides. Adding nurses means that there will now be a nurse present at all of the schools. Currently, nurses are on duty only half a day at some schools.
The 2006-07 school budget will total nearly 6.3 percent higher than last year. School officials said that the tax levy would increase to $76.3 million, but added that any state aid would be used to lower the levy.
Last week, state lawmakers announced a state education aid increase of $142.6 million for Long Island schools, with $21 million allocated for Baldwin. But Levenstien explained that those figures must be approved by Gov. George Pataki, and while the numbers look promising, Baldwin has anticipated having $19.8 million in state aid in its budget.
"It looks strong, but it's not official," said Levenstien. "If it changes, the money would be applied to offset the tax levy."
While school officials announced the tax levy, a spokesperson for Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson said that it was too early to provide the tax rate, or the increased amount a homeowner would have to pay, due to a change in the adjusted base proportion.
Elsewhere, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Britto recommended cuts to the preliminary budget, including an assistant basketball coach that was budgeted at $4,000 and a part-time learning, speech and hearing teacher.
The addition of a school psychologist, which was originally proposed, has been deleted from the budget. Britto explained that the issue needed to be reviewed further, and that administrators would discuss the matter later in the year. The board did agree on hiring an assistant track coach at the high school, saying that due to the number of students on the track team, there was a great need for an additional coach.
The board also voted 3 to 2 against starting a football team at the middle school, following a request for another team due to the number of students at the school who wanted a chance to play.
Board member B.A. Schoen and Anne Hannon said they were for adding a team, however, and that it was important to the middle school and could be a beneficial after-school activity. "I think it's important to a good group of kids," said Hannon. "It gives them something extra to be dedicated to."
Last year as well, the board voted against creating the team. Board members said that this year they were reluctant to add another team, at a cost of over $8,000, when other items in the preliminary budget were being cut. The goal was to maintain the current budget, with few deletions, school board President James Scannell and other members said.
"We're not asking to cut a team, we're asking to add a team," said board member Mary Clark. "I can't justify adding a team at this time. For me, it's not fiscally prudent."
The Board of Education election and budget vote will be held on May 16 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Baldwin High School.
Comments about this story? Baldwineditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
