The Elmont Union Free School District Board of Education adopted a budget last week that will be voted on May 15.

The proposed budget reflects $42,914,663 in expenditures and reflects an average increase of $0.98 per $100 of assessed valuation. An additional $1.01 per hundred will be needed to make the first payment on a bond that was passed a few years ago for the purposes of adding space to all the schools in the district and its associated start-up costs.

Among some of the items contained within the proposed budget are positions that Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maria Palandra feels need to be filled such as four classroom teachers, two special education positions, an assistant to the principal and three additional custodial positions. In addition, the district want to make sure it has adequate supervision for students during lunch and recess. It, therefore, plans to increase teacher aide time and provide increased security of students, staff and parents.

In addition, the district plans to revise the science curriculum during the summer and the proposed budget also contains an increase in the per student allocation for after-school services, textbooks and materials.

Dr. Palandra also reported that medical insurance premiums have increased by 10 to 13 percent and BOCES tuition for special education services has increased by 5 percent. These increases have to be factored into the proposed budget for 2001-2002.

The district also hopes to purchase two mini-vans for the transportation of handicapped students. The purchase will permit the district to replace one old mini-bus and to increase the number of students transported by the district to and from private schools, thus saving additional money used to contract transportation.

In addition, the district plans to modify the cafeteria and add bathrooms at the Dutch Broadway School, refurbish the new library at the Covert Avenue School and complete a roof project. Funds have also been set aside to upgrade the PA system and begin refurbishing playgrounds. The first two schools that would have new playgrounds would be Clara H. Carlson and Stewart Manor.