Budget talks: BOE focuses on instruction, technology, BOCES, and special education in second of four detailed budget presentations

The Northport-East Northport UFSD Board of Education’s second discussion of the 2022-2023 budget, regarding the topics of“Instruction, Technology, BOCES, and Special Education,” occurred on Thursday, March 10.

The entire proposed budget can be found here, in a 148-page budget development book made available by the district. The budget is a draft until it is finalized and adopted by the board. Projected at a grand total of $178,445,574, the proposed budget represents a budget-to budget increase of 2.15%. If passed to the tax levy limit of 1.82%, the average taxpayer will see an increase of $141.60.

Of this increase in overall expenditures, the district, as found in the budget’s prefatory remarks, has written the following: “For the past three years, the district has maintained the same tax levy for our community, despite rising costs. This year we are challenged with rising inflation, negotiated salary and benefit increases and increases to transportation contracts…. The district must be strategic and considerate of long-term financial stability in order to maintain the level of academic excellence our students deserve and our community expects.”

As listed in Draft Two of the 2022-2023 proposed budget, matters of Instruction under the four criteria “Curriculum Development and Supervision,” “Teaching - Regular School,” “Occupational Education,” and “Interscholastic Athletics” will undergo an increase of $223,890 (a 2.56% increase) from this year’s proposed budget to last. Mr. Robert Howard, Assistant Superintendent for Business, explained that there will be a 1.65% average increase in funds to most affairs falling under the umbrella of classroom instruction. Those increases are then offset by a reduction in the school lunch fund, which, due to its favorable results since implemented, can withstand a financial decrease.

Increases in overall instructional expenditures comes through a change in the price of material goods themselves, which have grown the “per-people allocations of materials to $15,” according to Mr. Howard. He also stresses that, while these allocations have not increased in over a decade, “inflationary pressures” have warranted the change.

A number of proposed initiatives were also given discussion during the meeting. One such proposal is the inclusion of an “in-district behavior specialist” for those students in need of such assistance. As was stressed, this specialist would be gathered internally from either the special education or psychology departments; they would simply be considered a “teacher on special assignment,” according to Mr. Howard.

Equipment and classroom technology were also widely elaborated on. One such policy that has already gone into effect throughout Northport High School is the replacement of SmartBoards (interactive displays projecting a blown-up image of a computer monitor) with the more modern, 4K, Promethean panel. The Promethean is also an interactive display, yet it is not a projection of a computer as the SmartBoard is; the Promethean is simply a large computer monitor mounted to the wall itself.

With each SmartBoard aging now over a decade, the district has slowly switched over to Promethean due to its cost effectiveness over the alternative. SmartBoards project their image through large light bulbs, many of which break every other year, leading to a $350-$400 expense continuously. To combat this, the district “decided to reevaluate and go to a new technology,” adding that “we had overwhelming support from our teachers” when a group of educators was assembled to vet and discuss the idea.

The technology of solar panels, brought up by Trustee David Badanes in past and present meetings, returned to the table, with the trustees weighing their opinions on the matter. The district expects, if implemented, that rooftop solar panels will pay for themselves in 17 years time, and that, whatever is decided, they will “make sure the product matches our needs.” This latter statement was a point of objection among trustees. Trustee Donna McNaughton expressed that, until she receives all the information regarding the cost-effectiveness, and, in her own words, “return on investment,” of the solar panels, she will not be in favor of a hasty installation. President Larry Licopoli agreed with Trustee McNaughton’s sentiment.

Such a capital project as solar panel installation would be funded with a mixture of both general fund appropriations and capital reserves funds. The latter needs an affirmative referendum by the public to be implemented in the proposed capital projects.

A number of other notable initiatives were introduced that received less comment. Such proposals include: a continued use of the Panorama survey “to identify, monitor, and support student social and emotional needs”; additional physical education opportunities at the district’s elementary schools; the expansion of a “20 week 6th grade World Language course”; a replacement of classroom printers, many of which malfunction or are no longer in working order; and “a partnership with Northwell Health to expand access to community mental health resources.”

Overall, the proposed budget, within the confines of “Instruction, Technology, BOCES, and Special Education,” lands at $30,928,423 and experiences a reduction of $408,367, or a 1.30% decrease from 2021-22 to 2022-23.

The next Board of Education meeting takes place on March 17, when the proposed budget will be discussed with reference to “Personnel and Benefits.” It should be noted that there is no public participation during March budget meetings, though community questions regarding agenda ideas are allowed; public participation will resume in April.