$133.6M School Budget Goes to Port Washington Voters

The approved a $133,573,806 budget ­– a 2.07 percent increase, falling within the tax levy capital limit of 2.13 percent. Approved by the board 7-0 on Tuesday at , the public will vote on the budget on May 15.

The board spoke too of the upcoming school board election, and a capital improvement bond.

Under this budget, guidance would be restored at the elementary schools. Program cuts, however, include three elementary school teachers, 3 PEP teachers, 2 high school teachers and 69 units (affecting clubs and sports).

Still, Superintendant Dr. Geoffrey Gordon offered some hope.

“We may not have to excess anyone,” he said, pointing to attrition and noting that staff reductions would take its toll via unemployment costs and on morale.

School board members thanked input from administrators, staff and community members since September, when the district began discussing the budget. 

President Karen Sloan said she hoped the community would “feel confident and proud of what we’ve been able to do,” noting that none of the cuts went to one student group.

Still, some services – like full-time elementary school librarians  – were not restored, and administrators are working on how to deliver PEP, Gordon said.

“I don’t think anyone’s happy with what’s cut,” said Board Member Sandy Ehrlich. “Instead, mostly people are saying 'look at how much we could have lost that we didn’t.'”

“At some point we have to come together as a community and decide we are all going to be on the same side,” she added.

Board members also spoke of better delivering programs and finding new sources of funding, including through sponsors and donors.

This year three candidates are running uncontested for school board positions. Incumbent Larry Greenstein is seeking re-election, while Nora Johnson and Vernon McDermott are running for spots vacated by outgoing members Sandy Ehrlich and Roy Nelson.

The board also discussed a $6.975 million capital improvement project for roof and envelope repairs at buildings, including Weber and . The board tabled a proposal to repackage the loan to save money in the first year.  

During community comments, Jim Ansel, a local engineer who, along with construction specialist Bert Tobin, analyzed the need for capital improvement, said costs should not exceed $4.5 million, rather than $8 million, a figurehad mentioned at earlier meetings.

Resident Joel Katz urged the board not to approve the bond, adding that it was “circumventing the tax cap,” and “still money coming out of the community’s pocket.” He added that he was not objecting to replacing the roofs.

And Joseph Mirzoeff recommended fixing the roofs with money from “the operating budget rather than putting the community in debt.” He added, “It’s not clear the community can afford that,” pointing to municipalities that are in trouble.

Baer said that while there are “two divergent views” regarding the scope of the project, the $6.975 million would provide the money needed to complete project. The district, he added, “will not use the money for anything but the stated repairs.”

The board will hold a budget hearing at Schreiber High School on May 8 at 7:30 p.m.