Donation Restores Miller Place Golf Team

Amidst major financial issues impacting school districts across New York State, the NYS Education Department no longer forbids school groups or private funding from paying stipends for chaperones or coaches.

This change made possible a donation of $22,213, which has restored the Miller Place Golf team. The Board of Education officially accepted the donation at Wednesday’s meeting. (Click for full video of the meeting via BOETV.com)

One of the casualties of Miller Place School District’s 2011-12 budget, the golf team will no be able to play its 2012 season because of the change in the NYSED policy. The donation of $1,680 from the Miller Place Athletic Booster Club and the private donation of  $20,533 from Miller Place parent Mark Wasserman was gathered quickly enough that it could be accepted in time to fund the 2012 season.

“In light of the financial situation that ‘s going on, they (NYSED) are not as stringent with these requirements,” said Superintendent Susan Hodun.

Donations must be approved by the Board of Education in order to be accepted by the school district. The change in policy opens the door for more and more programs and trips to be restored by booster clubs and various donations.

“The Board may be receiving a similar donation and we may have a special board meeting in January because the event that this group is fundraising for is going to take place in early February,” Board of Education President John Magnani said.

The donation increases the 2011-12 expenditure budget of $64,252,252 to $64, 274,465. When dealing with the upcoming 2012-13 budget, the baseline of the voter-approved budget (64,252,252) will be used for calculations.

“I’d like to thank the booster club as well as all the parents of the children on the golf team, they did a great job raising money [and] selling t-shirts,” said Board member Brian Neyland. “ I really want to thank their efforts, and especially Mark Wasserman. He wrote a check for over $20,000, he provided a golf team for Miller Place where we were unable to do that, so I thank Mr. Wasserman.”

Board member Doug Ports added, “It’s a truly amazing accomplishment in the community. It’s very impressive that in such a short time frame this was pulled off.”