By Brian Zanzonico
In Elmont, where the budget has passed by an average of 514 votes since 2003-04, the proposed 2007-08 budget is more than $65.5 million, a 6.7 percent increase over the current budget. The proposed tax levy increase is 1.9 percent.
The Sewanhaka Central High School District, whose budget has passed by an average of 380 votes since 2003-04 - thanks largely to Elmont voters - is proposing a budget of $141 million-plus, a 5.3 percent increase over the current budget. The tax levy increase is 1.2 percent.
In both budgets, the increase in tax levies, the percentage of the budget made up of local taxes, is well below the average increase in Nassau County public schools (4.22 percent), Sewanhaka Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks said. In Sewanhaka's case, Meierdiercks said, the proposed budget includes the lowest tax levy increase in at least 33 years.
Meierdiercks and Elmont Superintendent Al Harper attributed the low tax-levy increases to the record state aid package each disrict received. Sewanhaka's additional aid totaled more than $5.5 million, while Elmont got more than $3.5 million.
The Elmont budget
The lion's share of the spending in Elmont is for mandates and teachers' salaries and pensions, as is the case each year. More than 28.4 percent of the budget increase is for pensions, health insurance, Social Security and special-education expenses.
Harper said that in 2002-03, 53 students were placed in out-of-district special-education schools. This year, 26 special-education students go to schools outside the district. Harper explained that despite an increase in enrollment, the district has saved close to $1 million a year in costs associated with sending special-education students to other schools, which he attributed to better programs for special-ed. students in-house.
The budget includes more than $3 million in capital improvements, which, Harper said, will cost taxpayers nothing thanks to the state Legislature's Excel Special Aid program. The Clara H. Carlson School auditorium is the only one in the district slated for renovation. Some schools will repair crumbling masonry on old buildings, while others will get new windows. The budget also calls for the replacement of all public address systems, which are more than a half-century old, and the purchase of a new large school bus, two student vans and one van for disabled students.
Harper said that the budget also provides for a new districtwide English Language Arts series, a fiber-optic network for all buildings and the installation of "smart boards," interactive screens that give students access to the World Wide Web, literature and other capabilities.
The Sewanhaka budget
More than three-quarters of Sewanhaka's budget comprises salaries and employee benefits. Four new teaching positions are also provided for the district's planned educational support program for incoming and current seventh-graders, "Read 180." Meierdiercks said that the program would give students back-to-back English classes. If the budget passes, the program will begin at Elmont, New Hyde Park and H. Frank Carey high schools.
"We've got to bolster seventh- and eighth-grade reading scores," Meierdiercks said. "If it's successful, we'll expand it to the other schools."
More than $1.7 million in capital projects are planned for Elmont, Carey and Sewanhaka high schools alone, part of a total of $3.8 million for the five high schools and the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex in Elmont. If the budget passes, the improvements at Elmont High School will include:
At Elmont:
n Refurbished first-floor bathrooms
n A renovated science room
n A new fence on Ridge Road
n A refurbished track
n New library carpeting
At Carey:
n A renovated third-floor bathroom
n Fence replacement
n A refurbished boys' locker room
n Four new doors
n A new public address system
At Sewanhaka:
nA refurbished boys' auto shop bathroom
nA renovated science room
n100 new hall lockers
The school budget vote, school board election, Elmont library budget and Elmont library board vote are May 15.
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
