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Schools

Board Hands Over Budget to West Hempstead Voters

Before the community votes on May 17 on the school budget, the board of education held a final meeting.

After several agonizing months involving proposals, drafts and a fair amount of both from the community, the West Hempstead board of education held its final meeting before residents vote on

Most of Tuesday’s meeting revolved around reports from different departments regarding the budget, which totals $54,397,183, a 2.85 percent increase from the one approved in 2010-2011. (The tax levy increase is 2.99 percent.)

“We want to raise expectations and enhance student achievement…while addressing the fiscal realities this community faces,” said Deputy Superintendent Richard Cunningham.

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He recapped some strategies the board used to control expenditures. For example, the district will tap federal job funds to pay the salaries of 3.3 positions for this year alone, and $700,000 in EXCEL funds to pay for masonry work at the High School and Middle School.

The EXCEL project will only be approved if residents pass the budget, but Cunningham stressed that these improvements will save the district money in the long-run and end up costing them nothing.

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Thanks to the recent settlement with the teachers union - which gave up step raises - the district was also able to save money.

“No additional monies have been added to the pay scale, and there will be a freeze on the step payments,” Superintendent John Hogan said. It’s a move many hope will ultimately (and literally) pay off in years to come. (Check Patch later today for details about the contract settlement.)

“We believe we’ve put a solid budget forward and we’ve done our best to be responsive,” Hogan said. After backlash from parents, the administration added summer school back into the budget.

He added, “We continue to provide an excellent educational product,” as no cuts were made this year to academic or extracurricular programs.

After listening to the discussions about both the budget and the district's five-year strategic plan to improve academic performance, among other things (More details on this to come.) long-time resident Lily Haliasos suggested school officials apply a similar strategy to the district’s finances.

“I am glad to see that you will spend money…but we cannot just have a wish list,” said Haliasos, who urged the board to consider a five-year-plan or something similar for funds appropriation.

Board member Cynthia DiMiceli agreed, stating, “We do need a plan…whether it’s two, three, or five years. It’s better than one.”

Frustrated with the negative talk about the budget, Josephine Demarco of the PTSA, said,“This district does not spend money on manicures and massages; they spend it on teachers and nurses." Demarco added that she takes offense when community members and commercial properties “tell me my kids don’t need or deserve activities that others get or have received.”

Another parent, Loraine Magaraci, expressed here concerns over what would happen to school programs if the budget failed.

“I hope people consider how hard we’ve worked," she said.“To start making any other cuts would only hurt our kids…so please pass this budget.”

The budget vote will take place May 17 at West Hempstead Middle School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stay with Patch for more coverage.

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