Responding to concerns from residents that mandated expenditures could result in cutbacks to the instructional program, Massapequa School District Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Aloise recently pledged on behalf of district officials to "... find innovative ways to deliver services and programs in a cost-effective manner."

The district's goal when developing next year's budget is to hold expenditure growth to below six percent, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lawrence Pereira. However, this will be a significant challenge when considering increases to the New York State Retirement System, escalating health insurance premiums and enrollment growth alone result in a two-and-a-half percent increase.

Still, the staff at Massapequa Schools maintains that they are committed to developing the budget in a manner that limits the growth of expenditures while supporting instructional initiatives. The district has recently begun initiatives in the areas of staff development, curriculum development and alignment.

"These areas are integral to the success of our overall program and cannot be divorced from each other," Dr. Aloise said. "The success of our students is directly attributable to the curriculum we teach and how our teachers present it. It is imperative that we continue to provide for staff and curriculum development financially, and the 2002-3 budget will reflect our commitment to these areas."

The instructional portion of the budget for 2002 will be reviewed Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room. All residents are encouraged to attend.