Summary and Impressions from 7/31 BOE Meeting

[Wantagh Parent]

Please post here.

[forestlakermomof2]

After some *housekeeping* issues, the Board allowed Mary Hall to address them. She presented a check for over $311,000 (actually it was less $75,000, which is coming straight from Senator Fuschillo). If I remember correctly, this money will reinstate Fall & Winter sports at the High School and Middle School Level. Some clubs are also able to be funded with this money. Numerous clubs will be reinstated at the HS, MS while at the Elementary level, Student Council will be funded. The SOS also proposed that clubs with money leftover from last year should fund themselves and then once the rest of the money is raised, they will be reimbursed.

Overall, I am proud to be part of this Wantagh community. It amazes me that so much money has been raised in just one short month! It goes to show how much education and the kids of Wantagh mean to everyone.

I couldn't help but notice how happy Dr. Bonuso was! He couldn't stop smiling! He was grinning from ear to ear. The school board was also very appreciative of the hard work being done by Mary and the SOS.

So, I think the meeting was a postive one and hopefully the remainder of the money will be raised so everything that was taken away from our kids can be replaced.

[wantagh mom]

Forestlaker mom of 2. I believe it was only the fall middle school that was reinstated and the same for jv fall. We still need all the help we can get to get everything up and running come the beginning of Sept.

[wantaghmom1]

Yes, it is wonderful that the Wantagh community has come together and through hard work have raised the monies to save many sports teams and clubs for this coming year. And I am sure that all the money will be raised to reinstate the sports/clubs that remain unfunded. However, we must not forget that the contingency budget did not affect just athletics and extracurricular activities. More than 10 positions (teacher/clerical/monitor) were eliminated along with several other services that will be noticeable once school is back in session in September. Unfortunately, these positions/services can not be reinstated through fundraising. We must not forget ALL that was lost by the failed budget. Hopefully, next year when it is time to vote on the school budget, voters will remember how a contingency budget not only affects our children, but has a negative impact on everyone in our community.

[bnjasper]

Wantaghmom1- your posting should be directed to the administration and BOE. Yes the community has come through now we need the BOE to come through. Then the community will support the budget as in the past. Speaking of the past you should check Newsday today where they remind us of the 90’s when the state cut aid in the middle of the year. Wantagh cut a million and we still went on to become blue ribbon schools. The BOE has to stand up to the bureaucracy.

[vetmann]

One of the "housekeeping" issues was the tax levy- which is arguably more important than anything else that was discussed. The rate was never disclosed- does anyone know the new tax levy percentage?

[lilly]

For the failed proposed budget the spending increase was 7.75% with an adjusted tax levy of 9.1%.

The spending increase for the $63,190,454 contingency is 5.18%.

So, using the same proportionate difference, I would think the tax levy %age is around +6-6.1%.

But no, it wasn't disclosed in the BOE meeting and I'm just guessing based on the old #'s.