Budget Season Opens In Glen Cove Schools

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Budget Season Opens In Glen Cove Schools

Budget review presented at Glen Cove Board of Education meeting

The Jan. 7 Glen Cove Board of Education meeting marked the official opening of budget season.

Deputy Superintendent Kevin Wurtz presented the budget review.

“There are a lot of good things in here, and a lot of things that are troubling,” Wurtz said at the start of his presentation. He noted that the district is in “good fiscal shape” and that the budget has “a lot of moving parts.”

Members of the Glen Cove Board of Education, Glen Cove High School administration and Glen Cove School District central administration congratulated the AP Scholars who were on hand at the board meeting. In total, 38 GCHS graduates and current students achieved AP Scholar status, an increase of 35 percent from the previous year. Photo by Terry Gilberti

As in years past, the district starts the process with a rollover budget, moving all expenses forward and accounting for known areas of estimated revenues and expenditures. It is a working document for the board members to get an idea of how much money will need to be cut, and which areas to cut from.

“I went through every service, every employee and moved them forward without cuts,” Wurtz explained, “I flat lined the revenue, and will adjust accordingly when we know how much we will receive in state aid.”

He then went through a Power Point presentation highlighting every major category of expense contained in the budget, and pointed out areas that are expected to either go up or down in the 2013-14 school year. While some areas estimated to have a higher expenditure, such as the tax refunds line item at $449,000 and workmen’s compensation at $427,445, can be transferred out of the reserve fund at the board’s discretion, some of the biggest increases are out of the district’s control.

This year, the teacher’s retirement fund is expected to increase by 1.8 percent, bringing the total cost to the district to about $4.8 million, $1.6 million more than the current year.

One area that might find a savings is transportation; two studies are currently underway to assess the best options for cutting that expense, whether it is staggering start times, changing routes, or eliminating buses.

The rollover budget is projected to be a little over $3 million more for the 2013-14 school year. The current budget is $74,098,650, and the projected rollover budget is $77,130,288. This would mean a 4.87 tax levy increase. To get the tax levy down to 2 percent, the board would have to cut $1,786,296 from the budget.

“School districts are dealing with two emotionally charged items: money and children,” said Dr. Laria. “During budget season, emotions can get to a fever pitch.” He stressed the importance of separating needs from wants when making decisions about the budget, and praised the district for handling the subject maturely over the past two years.

Budget discussions will continue on March 18 and March 20, with the board slated to adopt the budget on April 22. A public hearing will be held May 7, and the vote will take place on May 21.

At the meeting, the 2012 AP Scholars were recognized.

“I congratulate each and every one of you, and each and every parent for being a role model,” said Dr. Laria. “You represent the best of the best, the brightest of the brightest, and give us great hope for the future.”

News

SAFE Sends Home A Pre-Prom Message

Friday, 24 May 2013 00:00

A recent visit from the Maureen McCormick, chief of vehicular crimes at the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, during an assembly for the seniors at Glen Cove High School, drove home the message that with every choice there is a consequence. The Choices and Consequences program, which addresses the dangers of reckless driving and driving under the influence, is brought to the high school by SAFE, Inc.’s School Committee who partner annually with the Nassau County District Attorney’s office to bring the program to the school right before the prom.

A Day To Recognize Seniors

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The community elders were celebrated and honored at Senior Recognition Day, held at the Glen Cove Senior Center on May 11. The day’s events included lively music from the Les Stanco Group and the Golden Voices Chorale, a luncheon and accolades to certain seniors.

Many of the centenarians in the community were recognized and given citations by the City of Glen Cove, and two members of the center were presented with awards.

Sports

Glen Cove Junior Lacrosse Club Week 6

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The Glen Cove Junior Lacrosse Club celebrated their Lacrosse Day on Saturday, May 11. Under cloudy skies and the threat of rain, the seventh and eighth grade ‘Late Knights’ started the day off against Half Hollow Hills and continued to struggle offensively. In the end the lopsided score didn’t reflect the strong effort put in by the Knights. Davey Moore, Russell Perciballi, Anthony Calo and Lucas Salerno each had a goal for Glen Cove. Calo and Salerno, converted defensemen, scored their first career goals on attack. Joey Grella was a force on midfield with two assists. Eric Brown and Perciballi assisted on the other two tallies. Goalie Brendan Whitehead played well but was unable to hold off the Half Hollow attack.

Glen Cove Junior Baseball/Softball League

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Glen Cove Junior baseball/softball games are now in their fourth week with games in full schedule. Below are results of last week’s games:

Midget Boys

The Glen Cove Fire Department Durham Bulls had three games last week. In the first game, they fell to the Hot Rods, 15-12. Matt Basil was 3-for-3 with a homer and two singles. Gavin Conway contributed a single and double as Luciano Tausaysay was also 3-for-3, with a single, double and triple. In the second game, the Bulls defeated the Blue Line Pools Iron Pigs, 13-7. Rodni Leftwich and Ian Cukro had three hits apiece in the team’s win. Leftwich homered and contributed five RBI. Conway added two RBI. Ryan Annunziato belted a go-ahead homer as Tausaysay added a triple and Finn Jenkins had an RBI. In the third game, the Delicious Pizzeria Bees outlasted the Bulls, 11-8. Tausaysay contributed two hits out of three at-bats including a double. Jenkins had a hit and two RBI as Vincent Milano was 2-for-3 with two RBI.