Port Washington School Budget Adopted

The Port Washington Board of Education adopted a $138 million budget Wednesday night on a 7-0 vote.

The $134,808,242 budget represents a 3.92 percent increase over the current budget, which is within the tax cap limit of 3.29 percent. That limit is decided by New York State, which has a complex formula that is applied district by district, and allows tax levies to exceed the 2 percent figure.

The new budget allows the district to restore proposed cuts of 3 full-time employees to the PEP program, and of 1 full-time employee for district-wide staff development. It also enables the district to return to full-time librarians at all seven schools.

As for security, the new budget allows for four additional guards as well as new visitor kiosks and a door-locking system. It also allows for new smart boards to be distributed equitably across the district, beginning with the elementary schools.

And it provides half of the funding needed to prepare for New York State assessments to be taken electronically in 2014-15. The full presentation is available on the district’s website.

“We really worked very hard to put together what we believe is a fair and balanced budget to maintain and even grow certain aspects of our educational program,” said Dr. Kathleen Mooney, superintendent of schools.

“We are able to do this largely due to the agreement we reached with the teachers association because we would still be talking about losing many teachers positions and in a much different place if not for that,” said School Board President Karen Sloan.  She was referring to an agreement between the Port Washington School District and the Port Washington Teachers Association, which extended the teacher’s contract to save the district $1.3 million, reached in February.   

Like many in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, Port Washington resident Howard Simon said he would support the budget.

“Anyone who’s been paying attention knows how much effort has gone into it,” he said. “But let’s be honest. To call this a positive budget is only in comparison to what could have been.”

He went on to say that next year will see fewer teachers, few educational and teaching assistants and larger classes, noting that next year the district will continue to face challenges and calling for the need to continue to work together.

The board meets next on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Schreiber High School, when it will hold another budget hearing as well as a tenure reception.