On Tuesday, May 19, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., at North Middle and South High Schools, qualified school-district residents will vote on the 1998­99 proposed school budget, a transportation referendum, and one board of education seat (President Mona Fuchs is running unopposed for re-election).

After extensive public discussion and input, during a lengthy and open budget process, the board of education has adopted a proposed school budget for 1998­99 of $100,728,000, an increase of 2.99 percent over the 1997­98 budget. The average school tax rate will increase by about $1.67 (4.7 percent), resulting in an average rate of approximately $37.30 per $100 of assessed valuation. More than a third of this $1.67 increase is caused by a $4.5 million (1.8 percent) drop in the district's overall assessed valuation, which is determined by the Nassau County Board of Assessors. Over the last seven years, the district's assessed valuation has been reduced by $10.9 million (4.2 percent).

Board President Mona Fuchs said, "The 1998­99 proposed budget reflects the board's commitment to keeping costs down while maintaining a wide breadth of academic programs, including instructional technology and science research. The board and administration continue to work together to ensure educational excellence and fiscal prudence."

"The 1998­99 budget is a continuation budget," said Board Vice President Judi Bosworth. "It reflects the priorities of the board and the community. The highest priority is instruction, which accounts for 73 percent of expenditures." Ms. Bosworth explained that the district's main goals are to continue all essential educational programs, maintain school buildings, and keep overall expenditures down.

The board explained that the 2.99 percent increase in the budget reflects various "unfunded mandates," including special education. Board Trustee Lawrence Gross defined "unfunded mandates" as programs our district must provide, by federal, state, or county decrees, but for which there is insufficient or no government aid. The district anticipates more than $10 million in special education costs next year.

"Special education is our district's largest single mandated cost," said Ms. Fuchs. "The federal government was to have assumed a large portion of this cost, but it actually pays for only a fraction."

Through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal government guides the way all special education services are delivered. "The government was supposed to fund 50 percent of special education costs initially, and 40 percent after the first year or two," stated Jack Kamins, director of pupil personnel services. "But, actually, the funding has never covered more than 7 to 9 percent of the costs."

William Shine, superintendent of schools, pointed out that the district is doing all it can to keep special education costs under control. "Our special education cost per pupil is lower than those of comparable districts," he said. "All of our special education students are identified within state guidelines."

In the Great Neck Public Schools, about 10 percent of elementary students, 13 percent of middle school students, and 15 percent of high school students require special education services. In all, about 12.9 percent of the district's 5,800 students are in special education programs.

Tuition fees for enrollment in the school district's summer programs will again be increased by 10 percent. These fees continue the board's goal of reducing the impact on the taxpayer by increasing the cost sustained by program participants. This summer, it is anticipated that about 75 percent of total program expenditures will be recouped from fees.

Ms. Fuchs observed that summer programs and other budget items, such as The Adult Program and required transportation, textbooks, and other aid for private school students, actually "distort our picture of what we spend....It appears as if we spend more than we actually do and most people are probably unaware that some of these expenditures are offset by revenue."

In fact, our district anticipates almost $7.9 million in revenue next year from various sources, including state aid, Adult Program fees, summer program fees, and rental of space in school district buildings by many outside groups.

Our district has entered into a number of cost-saving cooperative ventures with neighboring school districts, particularly in the areas of insurance; transportation; purchases of equipment, food items, and supplies; and other school-business operations.

Perhaps the largest and most successful of these ventures is the NY Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR). Through NYSIR, 120 school districts essentially provide insurance for each other at reduced rates.

Edwin Groshans, assistant superintendent-business, said that, before NYSIR, our district paid high premiums for liability and other insurance because insurers thought schools were a "poor risk." He added, "We proved that school districts are actually a very good risk." As a result, NYSIR has been able to offer more and more "layers of insurance" at tremendous savings over the years. The district's insurance costs are expected to decrease by about $43,000 in 1998-99.

Motion-sensitive lighting controls that have been installed throughout the district have also provided savings. At North Middle School, for example, it is estimated that the motion sensors saved $30,000 in energy costs in one year. Districtwide, the sensors are expected to pay for themselves by 2001.

As a result of two consecutive retirement incentives, in 1996 and 1997, the district has also reduced expenditures on personnel. For example, Mr. Groshans cited a $230,000 savings this year from the 1997 office-staff retirement incentive.

In addition, since the 1982­83 school year, 15 administrative positions have been eliminated through attrition. As of July 1, the position of buildings and grounds director will be eliminated when its occupant retires.

A proposed change in the district's transportation policy will appear on the ballot for the May 19 vote. The board of education has endorsed this change, which was submitted by the district's administration. The endorsement followed a careful review of current mileage limits and traffic safety conditions, a comparison with neighboring districts, and public discussion at board meetings.

The change would result in transportation for students in kindergarten through fifth grade who reside between 0.5 and 15 miles from the school they legally attend; for students in grades 6­8 who reside between 0.75 and 15 miles from school; and for students in grades 9­12 who reside between 1 and 15 miles from school.

The cost of the transportation referendum, approximately $197,600, will be added to the 1998­99 budget if the referendum passes. It would result in an eight cent increase in the tax rate, based on $100 of assessed valuation.

Copies of the 1998­99 Proposed Budget are available at the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Road. There are reference copies in the schools and public libraries. For information about the proposed budget and referendum, please call 773-1456 during school hours; for information about registration, voting, and absentee ballots, please call 773-1413 during school hours.