News

The Island Trees Board of Education, on April 20, unanimously adopted the proposed $46,490,359 expenditure budget for the 2005-2006 school year, representing a 5.59 percent increase over last year's budget. This will be among the lowest expenditure increases in Nassau County. The detailed budget newsletter has already been sent to each homeowner. A public hearing is set to take place on May 3 at 8 p.m. in the Geneva N. Gallow Elementary School. Budget presentations will also take place at the upcoming PTA meetings: PTSA, May 9, 7:30 p.m. at the Middle School; Michael F. Stokes Elementary School PTA, May 10, 8 p.m.; J. Fred Sparke Elementary School PTA, May 11, 7:30 p.m. The budget vote is on Tuesday, May 17 at the Michael F. Stokes Elementary School, noon to 9 p.m.

The proposed budget continues the district's commitment to educational excellence. All existing academic programs including academic support services, extra-curricular activities and athletics are maintained. A full summer program is also included in this budget proposal. Summer program offerings include: a Grades 1-6 YES Program, an Instrumental Music Program, 20 Sports Camps, Summer Science Olympiad and Robotics, Summer H.S. Health, Summer Academic Intervention, Electronic Music Technology, Driver Education, High School Evening Recreation, a five-week Summer SCOPE Extended Day Child Care Program and a Summer SCOPE Preschool Program. The proposed budget continues the commitment to early educational intervention with All-Day Kindergarten and low class sizes. Funds have been included to provide Before School Programs to help students meet the state standards in mathematics, English language arts and social studies. Additional college level courses for our high school students, i.e., college law, college marketing and college accounting are included. Also, funds are included to expand teacher training and curriculum development.

The board of education continues to support the district's technology initiatives. Funds are included to install one PC in every classroom at the high school, upgrading one computer lab with 30 new PCs at the middle school, installing three new PCs in every fourth grade classroom at Stokes and Sparke. The new installations include all necessary peripherals such as printers, cables, carts, etc. Funding is also included for additional network equipment and electrical requirements to accommodate the new computers and hardware, Power School support and BOCES Data Warehousing. Please note that the technology funding in the proposed budget has actually decreased compared to the previous year due to procuring hardware through a three-year lease.

Board President Robert Condela commented at the meeting that the proposed budget is financially sound and maintains excellence in education in our district. He went on to thank all of the administrators, faculty, staff and his colleagues on the board for their hard work in preparing the proposed budget.

On Wednesday, April 20 the Levittown Board of Education adopted the proposed budget of $151,579,434 for the 2005-2006 school year, representing a 4.5 percent increase over last year's budget, totaling $6,497,149. The tax levy increase over 2004-2005 is 2.6 percent.

In an effort to continue its mission of Success for Every Student, the highlights of the 2005-2006 proposed budget include a nine-period school day in the high schools, MacArthur and Division Avenue, an extended kindergarten program, and an increase in technology funding. No programs or services will be cut.

A second public hearing is set to take place on May 10 at 8 p.m. at the Levittown Memorial Education Center on Abbey Lane. A special meeting to certify the vote will take place on Tuesday, May 17 at 8 p.m., also at LMEC.