During the first meeting in a series of Farmingdale School District budget workshops that will take place through April 14, to discuss the school budget of 1999-00, Superintendent Gerard W. Dempsey, Jr. on March 17 presented to the board a preliminary draft budget of $80,709,228. This represents an increase of 6.98 percent over last year's budget of $75,444,114.

The budget includes 14.91 new instructional positions that would be needed due to enrollment increases and new programs. Dempsey said that this draft budget is over $2 million lower than the sum total of the budget requests submitted and considered. The total taxable assessed valuation should remain close to the 1998-99 level, but it is unknown at this time how these values may be distributed among classes.

The proposed 1999-2000 school budget reflects increases in salaries, equipment, textbooks, supplies, and other costs such as other services and BOCES costs, but may be changed substantially before it will be considered for adoption by the board.

In discussing the changes to the salary budget, Assistant Superintendent William Fanning stated that the cost of adding 14.91 new instructional positions would be $678,211; and the other changes to the salary base including raises, changes in costs, etc., would be $1,736,771. Dempsey raised the issue of the need for an additional administrator at Woodward Parkway Elementary School (which has a projected enrollment of 1,272 students next year), but stated that this position was not included in this preliminary budget.

According to the district's enrollment projections, the total K-12 student enrollment should increase next year by 157 students. All schools are expected to increase in enrollment with the exception of the 7th/8th grades of Howitt Middle School, which shows a projected decrease of 38 students.

Median class sizes were also discussed. Farmingdale's median kindergarten class size is 20.5, and ranks 28 out of 53 school districts in Nassau County. Kindergarten median class sizes range from 17.0 to 26.0 in Nassau. The median class size in grades 1 through 6 is 23.0 in Farmingdale, with a rank of 35. Median class sizes range from 17.0 to 26.0 throughout Nassau County grades 1 - 6.

Also at the meeting, Dr. Fanning presented an analysis of Governor Pataki's proposal for school state aid. The proposed budgeted amount of $15,090,408 for our district is an increase of $779,355 over last year, and includes building aid, but does not provide for the high tax adjustment aid (in recognition of Farmingdale's high tax status) or the transition adjustment. Fanning said that the governor abandoned the operating aid formula used in previous years and that his base is a "modification of reality." Dempsey stated that this will be the ninth year in a row that the amount of state aid we receive is below that which we received 10 years ago, despite cost of living and other increases. Other concerns with the proposed state budget are building aid caps; and the decrease and ultimate elimination of state aid for BOCES expenditures.

On March 24, the budget workshops will continue with discussions on the proposed 1999-00 capital projects, including the time frame for the renovation of the athletic fields, and the potential bond issue for long range plans.

On March 30, discussions will take place on Special Education increases, space requirements and bringing students back from out of district placements. School report cards will also be discussed at this meeting.

On April 14, the budget workshops will end with discussions on instructional technology and textbooks.

A public input meeting will take place on April 21, which will allow for public opinion to be heard before the final budget is adopted by the school board. A public hearing will also take place on May 11, after the board adopts the budget, and the budget vote and election will take place on May 18.