At its April 10 meeting, the Roslyn School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a school budget for 2008-09.

According to school district officials, the $94,178,999 budget represents a 4.62 percent increase over the current year.

The tax levy, officials added, is projected to increase 4.90 percent with an estimated average property tax increase of 5.95 percent.

The BOE vote represented the culmination of a budget hearing process that included five meetings over the past three months. During that time, BOE members heard testimony on the proposed budget by the principals of Roslyn High School, Roslyn Middle School, The Heights School, Harbor Hill School, and East Hills School. They also heard presentations by Dr. Dan Brenner, assistant superintendent for curriculum & instruction, Dr. Edward A. Salina, assistant superintendent for administration, and Thomas Mohrman, assistant to the superintendent for operations.

In a letter to school district residents, Superintendent Dr. John A. Richman noted that the proposed budget includes such "major" initiatives as a summer academic program, a new alternative program at Roslyn High School, increased foreign language offerings at both the middle school and the high school, and a reading and writing project of Columbia University's Teachers College.

The proposed budget also includes refurbishing and renovation projects at the middle school auditorium, the middle school outdoor athletic complex, and the high school running track.

According to Dr. Richman, the initial budget draft amounted to a 7.85 percent increase. The district, he added, found those numbers too high and so they made cost reductions and "efficiencies" totaling $3.3 million. (See "Superintendent's Column," page 5.)

Voting on the budget will take place Tuesday, May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Roslyn High School gymnasium.

Also on the ballot will be a special proposition authorizing expenditure of Capital Reserve Funds, the election of two school board trustees and the Bryant Library's 2008-09 budget.

Residents must be registered to vote prior to the election. For voter information, call 625-6599.