This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

School Board Meets to Discuss New Year

Students head back to class next week.

Sayville schools are ready to welcome back students for yet another year as the school board met last week to update the community on what took place over summer break. 

John Belmonte, assistant superintendent of business, said the Cherry Avenue and Lincoln Avenue construction projects have been challenging. On a daily basis the district has been pushing to have the Cherry Avenue multi-media center open by Sept. 1; Lincoln Avenue has a couple of items to complete before school starts.

The Johnson Controls energy improvements have been implemented. Every building has had something done to improve its energy efficiency.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Garfield Avenue Maintenance Facility project was recently approved and will proceed in the next month or so.

There was much discussion regarding the 2 percent tax levy cap that Albany passed which begins in the 2012-13 year. The crux of the issue, as stated by Belmonte, is voting will now be on a tax levy, not a budget, and this is different from the past.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If the budget fails, it will be resubmitted. If it fails twice, the BOE must adopt a zero percent on the tax levy. By March 1 of each year calculations for Sayville’s tax cap must be submitted to the State. Therefore, the budget must be built and planned earlier. 

Superintendent Walter Schartner sees the possibility of a need for three separate budgets – one that is slightly over the cap, one that is at the cap, and a third at zero because, as he pointed out “The public has the right to know what they’re voting for.”

Rosemary Camilleri said school enrollment will probably increase between 2-15 students.

Deputy Superintendent Gerry Sullivan Keck spoke about new teacher orientation. As in the past, it will take place over a two-day period. The handful of new teachers and staff were to be welcomed back this Tuesday and Wednesday.  

The 3-8 state testing schedule has been received. ELA is slated to  take place the Monday and Tuesday after Spring Break. Most of Long Island has voiced disapproval and the State is looking into it.

It was noted that school lunch prices have stayed the same as last year.

During the public comment section of the meeing, Kevin Doyle of Ronkonkoma addressed the Board on behalf of the Maintenance, Operations, Clerical and Food Service Units. He stated that on August 15 their settlement offer was submitted and they hope it will be adopted. Though he could not answer specifically, Board President Raymond Nelson did say that he had a great deal of respect for these individual units.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?