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Schools

Athletic Accomplishments and Fiscal Challenges Covered at School Board Meeting

Budget talks and district praise at Tuesday's meeting.

The  will hold its first 2011–12 budget hearing on Feb. 1, officials said at Tuesday's school board meeting at . And while Tuesday's meeting covered the hard financial road ahead, officials also shared some good news with the community.

That good news included praise for Port Washington sports programs, as well as an agreement reached between the school district and the paraprofessional association. The Feb. 1 budget hearing is expected to provide taxpayers the opportunity to better understand the financial roadblocks facing the district.   

Financial Matters

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Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Mooney "will be giving a full presentation at the next meeting, but we’re very excited about this agreement and it will be an approximate quarter of a million dollar reduction on this budget line,” Superintendent Dr. Geoff Gordon said. “Its cooperation and sacrifice like this, that is going to help us out during these times, and I’m proud of everyone involved for making this agreement happen.”

In other business, the board voted to retain the legal services of Hamburger, Maxson, Yaffe, Knauer, and McNally, LLP. According to Board Vice President William Hohauser, this is a retainer with a firm that is challenging the outcome of the County Guarantee, which could possibly free up some of the state-imposed mandates that must be included into the budget.

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Gordon praised former Sen. Craig Johnson for his assistance in obtaining grants, totaling $350,000, that reimburse the cost incurred when the district's running track was renovated. Unfortunately with the new administration taking office, Assistant Superintendent Mary Callahan was forced to put this accomplishment under scrutiny.

“The first hundred thousand is in the bank, it’s ours," Callahan said. "The second is currently in the queue, waiting to be paid, and the third is now subject to a vote as a waiver.” 

Callahan made a presentation on strategic planning, covering educational and fiscal alternatives. She highlighted the monumental challenges facing the board and the community in the next fiscal year, with the costs of healthcare and pensions on the rise and the struggles to offer the same programs in the district at the same costs to the taxpayers.

“In my opinion, we’ve reached the breaking point and will no longer be able to do things the way we’ve been doing them,” Callahan said. “The budget is a work in progress and it won’t be finalized until April and voted on in May. There is going to have to be a shared sacrifice in the community, and come May, we’ll know what the community wants and what they can handle financially.”

Praise for Athletics

Sports programs at both Schreiber and at  were recognized, thanks to the efforts of Athletic Director Stephanie Joannon, along with the district's coaches, including Jeremy Klaff and Robin Cooper (boys and girls cross-country, respectively) and Don Fish (boys soccer).  Each was awarded Coach of The Year from the Nassau County Coaches Association. Other winners included Jose Machucia (junior varsity 1) and Joe Virgillio (junior varsity 2), who won the Nassau County Officials Sportsmanship Award.

“These coaches that work with the kids are not only passionate about the kids, but they're passionate about their sport," Joannon said. "Our coaches being recognized for their work from the various coaching affiliations is wonderful.” 

“What’s even better about these coaches is that they’re not only extraordinary coaches, but extraordinary teachers as well,” Gordon said. “Besides the great win-loss records, our teachers and coaches do their very best to keep the kids involved and learn the value of sportsmanship on and off the field. This renaissance is what we want and what the community wants. We have 89 sports teams and have won the sportsmanship award two out of the past three years, and about 1,500 kids are participating in our various teams.”

Other News

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Nicholas A. Stirling's strategic planning presentation highlighted curriculum, with the goal to maintain programming while staying under cost and remaining competitive.

“One of the areas we’re looking to expand is in technology," Stirling said. "Our kids are more and more tech savvy and we’re looking into adding a technology teacher.” 

The Road Ahead

Gordon said that the goals with the upcoming budget is to have no additions except for government mandates, and to save money through attrition, whether through teachers retiring or leaving the district.

“We’re looking for cooperation, understanding, and sacrifice from everyone," Gordon said. "Otherwise it’s very possibly we’ll have to [excise].” 

The next school board meeting is Feb. 1, 8 p.m. at Weber.

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