On Tuesday May 20, residents across Long Island will decide whether or not to adopt their school districts' budget proposals. Residents of Island Trees will vote on their district's proposed budget at the Michael F. Stokes School from noon until 9 p.m. This year, Island Trees residents are being asked to approve a 2008/09 school budget of $54,705,585, which increases the tax levy by 2.60 percent, with the average homeowner seeing an average increase of 2.32 percent.

"Once again, we have put together a budget that has a tax increase which is among the lowest in Nassau County, while not cutting our educational program," said Island Trees Superintendent James Parla. "The board of education has worked very hard not only to maintain all of our programs, but also to further enhance them so that Island Trees will continue to provide its students with excellence in their education."

The Island Trees district's proposed tax increase is significantly lower than the Islandwide average of about 4 percent. While school districts across Long Island have kept their tax increases lower this year due to an increase of state aid, Parla states that this year's low increase in Island Trees is not a one-time fluke, but a continued pattern of Island Trees board members, administrators and staff working to keep taxes as low as possible for the residents. Last year, the Island Trees tax levy increase was 2.65 percent, also among the lowest in Nassau County and well below the county average. The previous year's tax levy increase was 3.54 percent. Parla offers the consistently low increases that have been decreasing from year to year as evidence of the concern that Island Trees' officials have for the fiscal well-being of the community's residents.

"There is a tremendous sensitivity in Island Trees to give the students an excellent education while keeping taxes low," said Parla. "The board of education puts in a lot of time and carefully reviews every line of the budget and sets priorities so that costs are kept to a minimum while not sacrificing anything towards the education of our students. The board is very sensitive about not over-burdening our residents while meeting the needs of the children and is getting the job done."

The budget proposal maintains all current programs and includes funds for the purchase of new textbooks for the integrated algebra course, a math course newly created by the New York State Education Department and a requirement for students. There will also be new textbook purchases in the areas of science, business and music. Additionally, the proposed budget calls for the continuation of the district's curriculum mapping initiative, expanding curriculum development programs and staff, implementing a new College Center at the high school, upgrading the technology program at the Island Trees Memorial Middle School, providing additional academic support programs to elementary students, upgrading computer technology throughout the district, purchasing a T-1 Navigator System to enhance math instruction and implementing Commerce Plaza, a fifth grade program to provide students with an understanding of business and economics. There are also funds for implementing a system called Connect-Ed, a school to parent notification system, as well as the maintenance of building and grounds, including the replacement of the intercom system at the Memorial Middle School that recently stopped working properly. Funds are also provided for the refurbishment of playing fields throughout the district.

The Island Trees School District services children primarily from eastern Levittown but also from some parts of Bethpage and Seaford. The district has two elementary schools, The Fred J. Sparke Elementary School and the Michael F. Stokes Elementary School, as well as the Island Trees Memorial Middle School and the Island Trees High School. The district has an enrollment of approximately 2,700 students. Visit www.islandtrees.org for more information.