Levittown Budget Recap: What You Need to Know

Budget season is always stressful, and with this year's cuts in New York State aid, the Levittown School District had an even bigger job before them. Unlike many school districts that are living year to year, Levittown put effort into looking beyond the immediate future and planning ahead for the next five years.

Concerned parents and taxpayers have filled the Levittown Memorial Education Center on Wednesday nights over the past few months, voicing their opinions to the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Herman Sirois, who will soon give up his place to incoming Superintendent of Schools James Grossane.

Unwanted cuts will undoubtedly have to be made in these bleak economic times, as Board of Education Trustee Ed Powers explained in a heartfelt speech at the budget adoption hearing on April 13 that brought audience members to tears. However there is a silver lining in that the Board has still been able to keep the district moving forward, fighting for the implementation of full-day kindergarten and a new early morning program at the schools so working parents have a safe, educational environment to leave their kids before school.

The adopted budget for the 2011-2012 school year is $197 million with a 3.43 percent increase in tax levy. Tax levy is the total amount that a district must raise in property taxes in order to meet expenses, and 3.43 percent is actually less than nearby school districts such as Seaford (8.99 percent), Wantagh (3.99 percent) and Bellmore-Merrick (5.8 percent).

Here are a few of the budget highlights.

• Class sizes will be increased, though not by much. Kindergarten to second grade classes will be increased from 22 to 23 students to save $342,000, grades 3 to 5 will increase from 26 to 27 students to save $342,000 and grades 6 to 8 will be increased from 25 to 26 students to save $456,000.
• Minimum course enrollment for grades 9 to 12 will increase from 15 to 17 to save $2,280,000. 
• The above savings include a loss of staff.
• Six lead teachers will be cut, as will the physical education chair, saving $91,200, and two special education chairs, saving $182,400.
• Special education chairs will teach one period each for a savings of $91,200.
•  Music lesson frequencies will be restructured to save $85,000.
•  The combo seventh and eighth grade Salk and Wisdom Lane baseball team is being cut at a savings of $15,000. The combo team was for the boys who did not make the regular seventh and eighth grade teams to give them the opportunity to participate. 
• There will be staggered start times for middle schools and elementary schools to save $360,000 in transportation costs.
• Cuts will be made to the gifted program, staff and supplies for a total savings of $296,280.
• Instructional technology staff, equipment and supplies will be cut for a total savings of $325,000.
• Three contingency teaching positions will be cut at a savings of $72,000 each.
• Maintenance equipment and supplies will be cut for a savings of $400,000.

Though the number has been adopted, the Board is still in negotiations over other factors, such as concessions, that could affect the budget. To see the list of potential cuts that represent the $12,997,583 that has been removed from the budget, click here. In the meantime, the following employees decided not to take increases in salary.

• Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Debbie Rifkin and Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel Darlene Rhatigan agreed to pay freezes for 2011-2012.
• Incoming Superintendent of Schools James Grossane has agreed to keep his salary at $225,000 per year for the duration of his three-year contract. (Current Superintendent Herman Sirois has been earning $383,594 per year.)

After a petition with over 700 signatures from the school district community was presented to the Board in support of the re-election of current Board of Education President Michael Pappas and Vice President Peter Porrazzo, the two announced they will be running uncontested along with Frank Ward. The vote for the budget and Board of Education election will take place on May 17.

Stay tuned for continued coverage by Levittown Patch, and if you would like to make your opinion on an issue heard with a community voice column, please email Editor Nina Ruggiero at nina.ruggiero@patch.com.