The Island Trees School District is facing a loss of state aid of $1,327,276 and mandated increases from the New York State Teachers Retirement System, the Employees Retirement System and the Empire Medical Plan of over $1,143,000. This loss of over 2.4 million dollars has presented the Island Trees Board of Education with many difficult decisions in formulating the upcoming 2003-2004 school budget.

Central Administration has worked with the board of education to try to provide a complete K-12 educational program, while keeping the expense side of the budget as low as possible. Superintendent Richard N. Segerdahl stated, "We can only control the expenses in the budget not the loss of state aid or the mandated increases from the state. We have spent many hours trying to cut our expenses without harming programs for our children. This is a very lean budget that represents an increase of $1,998,049 or 4.98 percent over the 2002-2003 school budget."

Segerdahl indicated that to keep the tax increase as low as possible staff cuts had to be made. Twelve teaching assistant positions were eliminated. Four elementary staff positions were eliminated. Senior library clerk positions were decreased from 12-month positions to 10-month positions. Supplies and equipment have been reduced in almost all areas. Some special education aides have been decreased from full-time to part-time. The cost of driver education has been increased to $250 plus supplies.

Segerdahl went on to explain that the budget contains a complete K-12 educational program. The budget also includes financing for: Continuing with a nine-period day, All-Day Kindergarten, the Summer YES Program, extensive summer intervention services, computer technology and career education offering. The first payment on the 3.5 million-dollar bond passed on 12/11/01 is also included in this budget.

The Island Trees Budget Newsletter will be mailed home shortly to all district residents. The board of education urges residents to review the budget and attend the budget hearing in the Geneva N. Gallow School on Tuesday, May 6 at 8 p.m.