The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), which was made up of 17 community members, was formed to make recommendations about the school budget to the Levittown Board of Education.

This committee has been working since February to evaluate and come up with recommendations about school security, traffic congestion, personnel and staffing, and buildings and grounds, in regard to the budget. Under the umbrella of the CAC, subcommittees were formed that worked on each of these areas. At the April 20 Budget Hearing they made their official recommendations to the board on each of these topics. The recommendations were voted on and approved by the entire CAC. In their report to the board they stated, "Formulating a budget which strikes a balance between providing the best possible education for our children and minimizing expenses is a difficult task. We believe that our recommendations will provide you with the information and guidance necessary to make the proper budgetary decisions on the special areas studied by the CAC."

In regard to school security, the committee assessed several options that were open to the district. This became an issue after many parents came to the board to express their concerns about school security at Summit Lane Elementary School. The CAC findings showed that there was not a severe problem with school security but that a proactive stance should be taken. The options that they assessed in regard to this were limiting entry to buildings by having only the main entrance unlocked during the school day and having visitors report to the main office and obtain a pass; training teachers, aides, office personnel and maintenance personnel to stop and question visitors; having a buddy system, where students always walk together in pairs; a security camera and monitor; positioning an attendant at the main entrance who would stop and question visitors and then issue passes. The idea about an attendant at the door is what several parents at Summit Lane have been asking for and is the most costly of all the ideas considered.

The CAC's recommendation was that entry be limited to buildings, there be staff training, and implementing of a buddy system. This plan has no additional cost to the district. In regard to Summit Lane they suggested, "Due to the concerns of the school's location with respect to the Tri-County Flea Market and drug rehabilitation center, it is recommended that the security camera and monitor be pilot tested at the building. Serious consideration should also be given to move the principal's office in front of the main entrance for the building." They went on to suggest that if that idea worked at Summit then it be implemented at the other five elementary schools. They did not recommend positioning an attendant at the main entrance because of the cost and the lack of security problems at the present time.

The next issue the CAC reported on was the problem of traffic congestion at drop off and pick up times. The CAC assessed two possible options; decreasing busing distances and staggering school hours. The first idea entails decreasing transportation distances for kindergarten through fifth grades and sixth through eighth grades by a quarter of a mile. The second option would mean changing the hours that each of the schools run.

The CAC's recommendation on this issue was that because of the high cost of changing the busing distances, the idea not be implemented fully right away. Their suggestion was, "For the first year decrease the distance for sixth through eighth grades from one and a half miles to one mile and assess the impact on traffic congestion and bus usage and in the second year decrease transportation distances for kindergarten through fifth grade from three quarters to one half a mile and one to three quarters of a mile for the sixth through eighth grades." They did not recommend staggering school hours because of all the difficulties that solution may cause.

The next thing they reviewed was the issue of staffing in respect to program and Regents requirement changes mandated by the state. The CAC felt that they did not have enough information to make a recommendation on that subject at this time but did say that they felt that class size should be kept lower than maximum capacity to furnish the proper learning environment.

The CAC made many recommendations for the district's "Five Year Facility Plan." Special emphasis was placed on the district's electrical systems and asbestos issues. The recommendation was that there be a gradual increase in the budget code amount to allow for capital improvements. They also recommended establishing a reserve fund, which will preserve the money for its intended use. They also recommended that the electrical systems be upgraded and that the asbestos abatement and maintenance program continue. They feel that their plan will minimize the yearly impact on the budget while making sure of the safety of the students and employees.

As a whole the CAC felt that they did not have enough time to properly weigh all the options on each of these issues. They recommended to the board that the CAC be an on-going committee, or at least begun in January rather than February. It was pointed out to them that this is a complaint that is issued by the CAC every year and that this year they did start a month earlier. It was stated that not enough information would be available for them to start their work any earlier.

The CAC was praised by the board and administration for doing "a fabulous job" and presenting them with a meaty and comprehensive report. They went on to say that the committee gets better with each year and that this was the best one so far.