Mineola Superintendent of Schools Michael Nagler presented a proposed $87.57 million on March 6 for 2014-15, a 1.65 percent increase from the current $86.14 million budget.
During an informal presentation at the March school board meeting, Nagler said under the proposed budget the tax levy would rise 1.46 percent to $79 million from $77.9 million in 2013-14.
He said the administration would apply $250,000 of the district fund balance saved through deferred “step” salary increases in the current teachers contract to keep the tax levy within the state-mandated tax cap.
Nagler said savings and revenues resulting from the district’s consolidation has enabled the district to expand programs while maintaining minimal budget increases.
“Unlike some other school districts, our foresight to reconfigure has afforded us the opportunity to enhance and expand on educational programs and physical plant,” Nagler said.
Under the reconfiguration, the district is leasing the former Cross Street School to the Solomon Schechter Day School and the first floor of the Willis Avenue School to Harbor Day Care. Nagler said annual revenue from the leases is approximately $500,000.
Nagler said the district will maintain all educational and extracurricular programs in the 2014-15 budget. He said the administration plans to expand its existing pre-K program to a five-day half-day program for all students. He said a reduced salary schedule for pre-K teachers in the current contract and a teacher retirement will enable the district to hire two additional pre-K teachers.
The district will seek an outside provider to oversee the pre-K program, Nagler said.
He said the district also plans to expand the dual language program for Spanish and English into the Meadow Drive and Jackson Avenue Schools. The district has reported success with the current dual language program in the Hampton Street School.
Nagler said the district is also continuing a science laboratory for grades three through seven.
“I’m pleased that we’re not scrambling to get under the cap,” said Mineola school board President Artie Barnett. “We’re not cutting our programs, we enhancing programs. We’re on the right track.”
Barnett said the school district is also maintaining class sizes at a “reasonable level.”
The district is anticipating $5.6 million in state aid for 2014-15, a $300,000 increase over what it received in 2013-14, according to Jack Waters, Mineola assistant superintendent for finance and business. He said the state aid increase is the result of spending more than was estimated on certain programs, including BOCES.
“We’re doing an excellent job of spending to increase programs in such a tough environment,” Waters said.
Nagler said the district is planning to upgrade facilities in the 2014-15 budget, including new seats and flooring for the middle school auditorium, a new public address system for the Hampton Street School, expansion of districtwide monitoring to include water, temperature and boiler alerts and air conditioning for some spaces at the Meadow Drive, Hampton Avenue and Jackson Avenue schools.
