Decrease in tax levy offset by state aid for Mineola schools
Building improvements and a lower school tax bill are slated in this year’s Mineola School District budget, which residents will vote on Tuesday, May 17.
The $91,214,512 budget was approved by the board on April 21, and represents a 1.73 percent ($1,550,249) increase over last year. The tax levy cap is -.012 percent and Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler said the influx of state aid will help offset the $10,343 decrease the district will collect in taxes. The tax levy is $78,843,160 and state aid is $7,100,000, an increase of 9.6 percent ($620,000). The district also has $900,000 in its appropriated fund balance, which Nagler described as a savings account that does not replenish and can’t be spent on reoccuring costs, such as salaries. Money from that fund is slated to be transferred to capital ($200,000), for facilities upgrades ($330,000) and equipment purchases ($470,000).
Nagler said that as in any school budget, 80 percent is comprised of salaries or benefits. Salaries make up $49,400,000 of the budget, while benefits make up $21,840,000.
This budget includes several building projects funded by state aid and the appropriated fund balance. The budget includes funds to replace the playground surface at Meadow Drive, as well as expand Room 120 to create a pre-K wing and separate pre-K playground. There will also be classroom furniture replacements at both Meadow Drive and Hampton Street. A pre-K wing is also slated for Hampton Street, as is a new playground surface, but these projects are not included in this year’s budget as they have already been approved to be done using funds from Smart School bond money and the capital reserve. Nagler noted that the district hopes to have full day pre-K in place by fall 2017.
At Jackson Avenue School, air conditioning in the instructional spaces is planned, as is exterior painting, cupola repair, new cabinetry in the art room and classroom furniture. The district is planning to create a bus loop at the middle school, as well as a fab lab in the annex to mirror the one at the high school.
The bulk of the work is slated for the high school. Renovations including construction of three music rooms, new music room instrument lockers, four additional 21st century classrooms, new library furniture, new iHub furniture, fab lab furniture and equipment, science research equipment and 1,700 new student lockers throughout the building.
The district is also planning to create a new storage facility at the Hampton Street Field, to complete the baseball field at the high school, buy a new truck, plow and Bobcat, as well as musical instruments and new sports equipment such as football and lacrosse helmets and wrestling mats.
In addition to the budget, residents will also vote on board of education vice president Patricia Navarra’s trustee seat, which will be left open in June. Cheryl Lampasona, Hampton Street School PTA co-president, is running unopposed for the position.
Navarra decided not to run for another term because she is running for an at-large seat of the National American Association of University Professors-Collective Bargaining Congress (AAUP-CBC) in Washington D.C. in June.
“I will miss working with my productive and generous board colleagues, Dr. Nagler, our teachers and administrators,” said Navarra in a statement, in which she also gave her support for Lampasona. “Our collaboration has expanded Mineola School District into a world-class educational program system with facilities poised for the 21st century, all while watching the tax dollar.”
Lampasona, an eight-year Mineola resident, has two sons in the district and wanted to get involved with the board because she said she strongly believes in what the district is doing.
“I strongly believe what Mineola is doing is wonderful for our students. I want the programs they’re doing to continue and to help create new programs,” Lampasona said.
In addition to her PTA duties, Lampasona is also involved with Hampton Street’s council for dual language and the district council for dual language, as well as a den leader for Cub Scout Troop 246. She’s a third-grade teacher for the department of education in New York City.
She said she believes Mineola has done a good job of incorporating so many different programs, such as sports, arts, technology and languages, and she wants to help it grow and flourish even more.
“I want to be part of what the Mineola board is creating and doing,” she said. “I have a strong belief for the district and want to be a part of that.”
The vote takes place May 17 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Jackson Avenue and the Meadow Drive School.
