Bethpage-Tribune_2010-05-14

              Vol iberW 329BR»dw«y..BeflW.NYim4 Mayl4-2«, 2009 (Stfi)68l^ e>a: 21 -935 yi
Bethpage School District Budget Vote May 18th:
Lowest Proposed Budget-to-Budget Increase in 19 Years
The Bethpage School District is proposing a 2010-2011 School District
Budget that represents the lowest proposed expenditure increase in 19 years
and is among the lowest proposed by school districts in Nassau County. The
proposed budget preserves all aspects of the District's core educational pro-gram
and will allow for several new curricular initiatives and classes,
expansions to the athletic program, technology upgrades, and more.
Residents will be asked to vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 18
at Bethpage High School, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
The proposed budget-to-budget increase is 1.88%, compared to the
2.49% increase that voters approved last year. "We continue to meet the
needs of our students and support unfunded state and federal mandates,"
stated Superintendent of Schools Mr. Terrence Clark. "We are pleased to
propose a budget that sustains our staff, class sizes, extracurricular opportu-nities,
and all student programs." The proposed budget also supports the
continuation of TGIF @ BHS, extension of the 21st Century Scholars
Program into the elementary schools, installation of SMART Boards in all
secondary classrooms, new textbooks, the inclusion program in grades K-
11, cultural arts, field trips and summer programs. Academic Intervention
Services, introduction of a JFK Middle School kickline and High School
weightlifting intramurals, and more.
The District has taken many cost-saving actions that have contributed to
this minimal budget increase, which are summarized as follows:
Instructional and Staff Savings
Through retirements and attrition, the District will realize a savings of
approximately $900,000. Six Bethpage teachers are retiring this year; how-ever,
two positions will not be filled based on the District's enrollment and
needs. In addition, the Central Office Administrators volunteered to take a
pay freeze for 2010-11 due to the hard times faced by so many. The District
will additionally save through its expanded Special Education Program,
which enables students to be brought back to Bethpage schools from out-of-district
placements. The creation of an extended school year program for
12-month lEP students will save the District approximately $20,000. The
District has a total of 56 students receiving English Language Learners
(ELL) Services. Last year's restructuring of the ELL program brought
$240,000 in savings, and further adjustments will result in additional sav-ings
of approximately $100,000 in 2010-2011.
PILOTS and Grants
The District continues to seek out alternative sources of revenue. The
Board maintains its aggressive pursuit of PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of
Taxes) from local businesses, as well as grant opportunities to aid programs
and offset costs to taxpayers. This includes the community development
SPECIAL
PICTURE PERFECT PET
PULL-OUT
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
grant obtained from the Town of Oyster Bay in 2009, which funded the
entire athletic complex construction project, including Phase 2, which is
scheduled for completion in early June.
Energy Efficiency
The District is continuing its efforts with the energy service company
Johnson Controls, Inc., to install energy-efficient building systems in the
Bethpage schools, and explore new projects that will conserve energy usage
and thus further reduce costs. These projects are funded from the energy
savings they produce, and will have no cost impact on taxpayers. Projects
anticipated for the 2010-2011 school year are listed as follows:
• Solar Pool Heating (BHS)
• Solar Kiosk (BHS)
• Efficiency Lighting (BHS, JFK MS, Central Boulevard ES, Charles
Campagne ES, Kramer Lane ES)
• Auditorium Lighting (JFK MS)
• Boiler Replacement (Campagne ES)
May 18 Voting
Voters are encouraged to park in the rear of Bethpage High School,
located at 10 Cherry Ave. in Bethpage, upon arrival. Polls are open from
7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The District will also conduct a free "Democracy
in Action" concert and art show for residents, featuring student vocalists and
musicians from every school in the District, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the
Auxiliary Gym. Voting will be in the gymnasium.
Girl Scout Troop Visits TD Bank and
Receives Full Tour of Bethpage Facility
Safe to say everything made perfect "CENTS" to Brownie Troop
US245, when they recently visited TD BANK in Bethpage. The girls
received a full tour of the bank and enjoyed learning about how to save
money and what happens at the bank each and every day