Beginning on March 18 and continuing for the next five weeks, the Farmingdale Board of Education will be presenting public meetings on the school budget. At the first meeting, district administration delivered a general overview and a proposed school budget to the board and public. At the meetings to follow, our board of education will begin a process of deleting budget items wherever possible. The board will aim for a community agreement to keep the tax burden at a minimum rate and still attempt to fulfill their commitment to a quality public education.

In the best of times, the administration's projected proposal should represent the ideal school budget providing the maximum support for student educational needs regardless of cost. However, these are not the best of times for education, despite the media hoopla presented by federal and state legislators who keep touting this issue as a number one priority. Therefore, the proposed school budget is presented conservatively; barely adding any curriculum enhancement programs for Farmingdale students and, at most, increasing staff only to support the projected enrollment growth and NYS Standards. How can a board of ed begin to trim away the excess when there's not enough to start with? Why are we entering the millenium with antiquated financial formulas that no longer are capable of financing the futuristic concepts in learning and education?

The problem does not lie with the NYS Board of Regents who have imposed new and tougher standards for student achievement which require funds for teacher training, staff additions and curriculum improvements. These leaders in education have recognized the need to educate students to strive for that higher level of learning to enable them to compete and succeed globally. PTA supports these new higher standards and will continue to ensure that every child has this educational opportunity. All school districts must have sufficient state funding to implement these Regents' standards and despite the Regents request of $50 million in state funds for teacher training and curriculum enhancement programs only $1.5 million has been provided in the state budget.

The problem does lie with state education funding proposals and the media perception of these proposals. Though last year and this year it was proclaimed that the state budget had provided for an increase in state school aid, it still had no effect in our classrooms or helped to build a substantial base for our school budget. State aid projected for our district this year only provides for existing programs. There will not be excess money for the new programs that will be necessary to meet the Regents standards.

PTA supports and encourages legislation that would set a minimum level of state aid of at least 50 percent of the total educational costs for the state and for the funding formulas to be reformed. The success of our effort lies in the cooperation of all citizens who understand that funding for our schools must come from the state and not our local taxes. The Farmingdale Council of PTAs will be distributing to all local unit PTAs our state legislators' office addresses and fax numbers with sample scripts about "How to Effectively Lobby Your Legislators." Also to be distributed, will be a prepared letter to be mailed to our leaders in Albany. Farmingdale PTA urges all the community to sign the letter in a massive effort to significantly add state funds to education from this year's budget surplus.

The next public meetings on the school budget will be held in the board room or Howitt auditorium, 8 p.m., Wed., April 1, and Tuesday, April 7. On Wednesday, April 22 there will be a public input meeting for residents to express their opinions and concerns before the board adopts the budget for voter approval on Tuesday, April 28. The vote on the BOCES budget will also be held on April 28. Voter registration will be held in the Howitt East lobby from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 9. The budget vote and election will be held in the Howitt East gym from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

In addition to the instructional services, special education and operations of the school district, the Farmingdale school budget also includes funding for summer school and adult education programs, interscholastic athletics, art and music, technology, driver education, home and careers, kindergarten, music, transportation, Youth Council activities, after school activities and the Farmingdale Public Library.