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Schools

Board Of Education Holds Public Budget Hearing

Seeks comments from the community on recently-adopted 2012-2013 spending plan.

The Massapequa Board of Education held a public budget hearing this week, inviting members of the community to comment on the 2012-1013 spending plan recently adopted by the school district.

However, when the Board opened up the hearing for public questions relating to the budget, which goes up for a public vote on May 15, none of the attendees had any to relay. 

Deputy Superintendent Alan Adcock took the lack of queries from the audience as a show of support for the budget.

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“I think that was a good sign,” he said. “We’ve had five budget workshops where the community has come out and asked questions about the budget, and the budget that has been adopted by the board was certainly considerate of the questions that were raised. And that budget, which is ultimately going to the community to be voted upon, seems to have satisfied the community, because there were no questions tonight.”

The proposed budget, officially adopted by the Board on April 19, comes in at $183,211,442, representing a 2.22 percent tax levy cap increase and a 2.16 percent increase over the pervious school year’s budget. No school programs were cut, but a total of 29 teaching positions were eliminated.

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Another topic covered at the meeting was the district’s policy not to hold additional events at schools that are also hosting public voting at the time, which was adopted after several complaints were expressed by members of the community.

Trustee Gary Bennett pointed out that a concert is scheduled to be held at the High School on the day of the School Board elections, something that the district commented that they would look into.

“The public approached us about this,” he said. “The community expressed that having additional events at a school during voting causes parking problems, and if they can’t find somewhere to park, they don’t vote.”

Awards were also handed out at the meeting celebrating some special children in the Massapequa school district.

First up, the Board of Education saluted the Massapequa Challenger Teams, which provide an outlet for special needs students to play sports such as soccer and basketball in a supportive, team environment. The students were called up, one by one, and each was presented with a trophy and certificate.

Maxine Bogen, a member of the Challenger program, praised the competitive spirit of these student athletes.

“We’ve learned a great deal about sportsmanship and friendship,” she said.

Bogen also announced that members of the Challenger program were being invited to participate in a segment of ABC Television’s Live with Kelly program on Monday.

Assistant Superintendent Lucille Iconis also presented awards to the Odyssey of the Mind winners, who participated in a State tournament that emphasizes creative problem-solving through teamwork.

The next meeting of the Massapequa Board of Education is scheduled for Thursday, May 24, at 8 p.m.

The public 2012-2013 budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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