Voters in the Roslyn Public Schools will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 15 to vote on a 2001-02 school budget of $63,063,462.

The budget was approved for presentation to the voters by a vote of the Board of Education on April 24 following a series of public meetings at which the budget was reviewed by the Board and central administration.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank A. Tassone outlined some of the budget challenges that the district is currently facing, providing some context for the budgetary priorities and objectives that have shaped the spending plan for the coming school year.

Budget challenges include continued increases in student enrollment in 2001-02 (on top of a 25 percent increase in the past ten years), an annual inflation rate of 4.0 percent and a sharp rise in health insurance costs, which are expected to rise 12.5 percent next year.

Essential budgetary objectives, in light of these and other challenges, include 14 additional teaching positions to maintain appropriate class sizes, meeting higher academic standards that are being implemented by the New York State Education Department and maintaining a high level of special services so that all students can meet the higher standards.

"When we started the administrative budget review process last fall, the budget-to-budget increase was 15 percent," Dr. Tassone explained. "By reducing expenditures in every way we could, without compromising any of our instructional programs that directly affect children, we have been able to bring that number down to under 10 percent."

The estimated tax increase on Class I property will be $6.02 per $100 of assessed valuation. For the average home assessed at $11,700, this is an increase of $705 per year or $59 per month. Estimated savings under the STAR program for the average Roslyn home is $672 per year. (These figures are based on the base proportions for 2000-2001; the figures for the four classes of property for 2001-02 was not yet available from Nassau County at press time.)

Copies of the school budget are available at the Central Administration building on Harbor Hill Road, at all school buildings and at the Bryant Library.

Voting will take place in the Roslyn High School gymnasium on Tuesday, May 15 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters will also elect three trustees to the Board of Education. Names that will appear on the ballot are those of incumbent Ronna Niederman and candidates Karen Bodner, Maryann Combs, Linda Rosero and Jill Studley. Also on the ballot is a proposal to extend the current transportation policy for one more year. The policy was revised two years ago to provide busing for all students in grades K-8 and reduce mileage to 3/4 mile for students in grades 9-12 for the duration of the LIE construction. Reimbursement from New York State will enable the district to continue this modified policy and to further reduce the mileage for grades 9-12 to 1/2 mile, at no additional cost to taxpayers, subject to voter approval. The Bryant Library budget for 2001-02 will also be on the ballot.

For voter information, including information on absentee ballots, call 625-6303. Applications for absentee ballots may also be obtained on line at www.roslynschools.org/code/absentee.htm.