The Glen Cove Board of Education met at the high school on Monday, March 4 for their second discussion of the proposed budget for the school year 2002-2003. The proposed spending plan stands at $51,855,298, an increase of $3,745,019 over the current budget, but it is still a working document subject to change before its adoption by the board. This meeting focused on the first part of the instructional section, dealing with proposed staff increases, upgrading of computer services programs and the possibility of the district purchasing automatic external defibrillators, which could be mandated by the state as early as July. Glen Cove's budget apportionment is in close alignment with the 56 school districts on Long Island, and its $14,500 expenditure per child falls within dollars of the Nassau County average.

Transportation for high school students was not included in the redaction presented to the board by Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley and her staff. The board, however, unanimously suggested to Assistant to the Superintendent for Business Larry Blake that he "go back and sharpen [his] pencil" to find a way to fit the $791,000 cost into the budget. High school transportation has been a point of contention in the district for many years, and recently there has been a resurgence of residents once again fighting to provide all of Glen Cove's students with transportation to and from school. Glen Cove is the only district on Long Island that does not provide transportation to all its students. The cost of transportation for high school students represents 1.5 percent of the total budget, and after the first year, 23 percent is reimbursed by the state, which would bring the $791,000 cost down to approximately $600,000. Mr. Frank Riolo, who has been very vocal in his efforts to persuade the district to include transportation in the budget, said he was very pleased that the board was so open and receptive to the needs of the student body and the voice of the community.

Further discussions included topics such as differentiated instruction, staff development, special education, computers, class size and science research programs.

Just before the meeting was adjourned, board member Phil Enright announced that he will be moving to Port Jefferson this fall "to be closer to the grandchildren." Therefore, he will be resigning his seat on the board effective June 30, the last day of his fourth year. One year will remain of his term. The school board will be having elections on May 21, along with the school budget vote, and now two seats will be open. The candidate who garners the most votes will be seated for a four-year term, and the candidate with the second largest number of votes will sit for one year to finish Mr. Enright's term.

The next meeting of the board of education, with further discussions of the budget, will be held on Monday, March 18, time and place to be announced. Board President Vito Abondandolo once again welcomed anyone who would like to speak on the budget to attend.