Lynbrook BOE Holds Second Budget Work Session

On Feb. 27, the Lynbrook Board of Education held its second of three budget work sessions to plan the proposed 2013-14 district budget.

The session dealt with school building budgets, communications, fine and performing arts, athletics, special services, facilities, summer recreation, summer school programs and adult education. Interim Assistant to the Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks led the presentation, with support from the building principals and directors.

The total elementary budgets will increase by $5,233 for the 2013-14 school year, with the kindergarten center experiencing a slight increase in the cost of textbooks. Middle school and high school budgets will increase by a combined total of $1,080.

The overall special services budget will increase by $87,995 or 1.9 percent. Next year the district will be providing public tuition payments for 13 special education students, private tuition payments for seven special education students and an increase in the number of students receiving health services in other districts.

The facilities budget will realize an increase of $30,801, or 1.2 percent. The presentation detailed a list of projects that are being funded for each school, with smaller projects funded through the general fund. Larger facilities work at the high school, West End, Marion Street and South Middle will be paid for through an interfund to capital transfer.

The district will also be asking the public to approve the use of $1,391,000 from the capital reserve to replace the track, tennis courts, gym bleachers, one set of exterior doors and two sets of interior doors at South Middle, as well as the gym bleachers at North Middle.

The overall communications budget will increase by $3,397, or 0.26 percent, to provide computer upgrades and an upgrade to the community notification system to improve communications. The need for an upgraded community notification system, which was being explored before Superstorm Sandy, became evident in the wake of the disaster.

Residents will also be asked to approve the use of $600,000 from the Technology Replacement Fund to replace outdated switches, expand switch infrastructure, increase wireless infrastructure and provide additional virtual server infrastructure, and to provide off-site disaster recovery at BOCES.

The overall athletics budget will realize an increase of $347 or 0.02 percent, while the budget for fine and performing arts will increase by $1,956 or 1.1 percent.

Budgets for adult education, summer playground and middle school and high school summer school programs will realize a total increase of $512 for the upcoming school year.

The third and final budget work session, which will provide a summary of expenditures and revenues, will take place on March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.