The East Williston School District’s $56.7 million budget proposal passed Tuesday by a more than 4-1 ratio, along with two capital reserve measures and the re-election of two Board of Education incumbents.
The adopted budget, which passed in a 405-to-86 vote, increases spending by 1.68 percent, or about $938,000, over the current 2014-15 budget, while the tax levy increases by 1.8 percent to $53.1 million.
In her weekly newsletter last week, Superintendent Elaine Kanas said both increases were the district’s lowest in 20 years.
A measure to allow the district to make repairs using funds from its 2013 capital reserve passed 383-82, while a second measure to create a new reserve with a five-year lifespan and $3.5 million cap passed 366-78.
Robert Fallarino and Leonard Hirsch, who both ran unopposed, were re-elected to the district’s Board of Education with 379 votes and 334 votes, respectively.
The adopted budget includes funding to maintain all current programming and expands STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — investment.
It includes funding for the creation of a robotics program at Willets Road Schoool, increased coding opportunities, more Chromebooks and enhanced wireless capability at North Side, staff development and further implementation of Project Lead the Way, an applied problem-solving curriculum.
It will also restore fifth grade intramurals and increase fifth grade English Language Arts instruction to a two-block period per day from 1.5 blocks, which middle school principal Stephen Kimmel said would bring the district in line with others middle schools.
“Right now, you’re seeing a very good functioning East Williston School District,” Board of Education President Mark Kamberg said leading up to the vote. “I think the Board of Education works well together and as a result we’re able to accomplish the things we need to for the children of East Williston School District.”
The first capital reserve measure allows the district to expend the remaining $2 million in its 2013 capital reserve to replace unit ventilators, install steam control valves, replace DDC panels and remove existing windows to install of Dual sash, low E single glazed windows.
The second capital reserve measure allows the district to create a new reserve with a five-year lifespan and $3.5 million maximum, plus interest, to fund bathroom reconstruction, flooring replacement and abatement, tennis court reconstruction, exterior door replacement and kitchen ventilation reconstruction, among other projects, all of which will need to be approved by voters.
The fund can be filled with any unused funds from the prior fiscal year. Kamberg said capital reserves reduce costs for the district by avoiding the bond interest payments and counsel costs that go along with borrowing.
“The capital reserve tool is an amazing opportunity to fund large construction repairs and projects using unspent funds from budget years,” Kamberg said.
Fallarino, the school board’s vice president and a malpractice attorney, was re-elected to his third term.
“I came on at a time where there was a lot of flux in the community and there were a lot of issues, and I think what I helped bring was a vision and stability,” Fallarino, who has two sons in the East Williston school system, said in a past interview. “And now I want to do that for the future, and make sure the 2 percent [property tax] cap doesn’t negatively affect the students.”
Hirsch, who grew up in East Williston and works as the chief financial officer of a New York investment fund, was first elected to the board in 2012. He had previously served on the district’s financial advisory committee.
“It’s been a very good experience. I think we’re in a pretty good place right now, and I have personally been able to bring some value to the board,” Hirsch said prior to the vote, noting his experience as an accountant.
