The Sewanhaka Board of Education held a budget presentation at its March 24 meeting.
In the presentation, the district projected a $278,105,783 budget for the 2026/2027 year. This is a $13,890,988 (5.26%) over last year’s adopted budget.
The board projected a tax increase of 1.68% over last year’s levy in a previous budget presentation.
Superintendent Regina Agrusa said transportation and special education are the largest contributors to the program budget’s rise, with increases of $4 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
According to state Department of Education data, the district had 7,728 students in the 2024/2025 school year. The district did not provide up-to-date enrollment data as of March 24.
Using the 2024/2025 number with this year’s projected budget, the district would spend about $35,986 per student, compared to last year’s budget (using the same enrollment number), during which the district spent about $34,189 per student.
Agrusa also discussed several capital improvement projects, totalling almost $3 million, to upgrade infrastructure across district buildings.
She also said the district will present a resolution at the budget vote that will allow it to fund up to $15 million over 10 years in a reserve for infrastructure projects, such as air conditioning, athletic fields, and other building enhancements.
The district’s budget vote will be held on May 19.
The school board also authorized several disbursements from the district’s general fund, school lunch fund, federal fund, capital fund and miscellaneous revenue fund, totalling almost $12 million, according to the agenda.
The board discussed bids for supply providers, approved purchases from student clubs and addressed several personnel matters, including tenure schedule changes, appointments, resignations and requests for leave.
Trustees approved a walk-on item denying BOCES enrollment at Long Island High School of the Arts to an incoming 9th-grader and dancer at Elmont High School, citing financial concerns and board policy.
“By virtue of where we live, not to be able to do that is unfortunate,” Gerdie Gordon, the student’s mother, said during public comment. “What she needs is not offered at Elmont.”
Board president William Leder said Gordon can try to appeal the decision, which she said she will pursue.
The board presented several commendations and awards, including to Sewanhaka’s varsity boys’ soccer coach, Ahkeel Rodney, who was named the 2025 High School Coach of the Year by the Black Soccer Coaches Leadership Team, and to Anthony Brancato, director of physical education at H. Frank Carey High School, who was awarded at the annual New York State Athletic Administrators’ Association.
Students from the architecture program from Career Technical Education at the district presented the board with mockup plans for a redesigned guidance center at H. Frank Carey High School.
“They worked with our architect and their firm,” the school’s principal, Jennifer Alaimo, said. “And the architect is using their plans as the basis of the actual plans that are being submitted to the state.”
The board also honored student-artists who received scholarships for artistic works, and the district’s five National Merit Scholar Finalists.
