The Mt. Sinai School District proposed a budget that pierced the tax cap, and it failed Tuesday after the community did not give it the necessary 60 percent supermajority approval.
Now, the administration and Board of Education must put together a budget that does not exceed the allowable cap of 2.13 percent for the district.
Concessions were made before Tuesday's budget vote from both the Mount Sinai Teachers Association and administrators. A renegotiated teacher's chontract gave back a total of $6.4 million to the district, and the current adminstrator give back is at $3,500, while discussions may still be ongoing.
In previous budget presentations, Superintendent Anthony Bonasera mentioned that without piercing the tax cap, the district would have to make significant cuts to clubs and athletics. A budget fact sheet available on the district's website (attached) reads that with a failed budget would result in the loss of 14 elementary school clubs, 20 middle school clubs, 15 middle school athletic teams and six high school athletic teams.
What do you think can or should to be done in order to save these programs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Bonasera points to the older demographic of the community and a lack of voting from the younger residents as reasons the budget did not garner the support it needed in order to pass. "The younger people aren’t voting," he said. "I don’t know if it’s a situation where they think it’s going to pass or they’re saying 'my vote doesn’t count', but their vote does count." The Board of Education and administration will hold an executive session on May 22 to discuss particulars of the new budget. A public board meeting is scheduled for June 13, a week before the budget re-vote on June 19. Bonasera said it is possible there will be another public session beforehand, but nothing has been decided yet.
Bonasera, Anthony J $407,090.00 Jensen, Linda F $208,577.94 Williams-Timo, Deena L $199,302.33 Mantone, Stephen E $187,266.00 Gentilcore, John C $182,497.00 Reh, Scott C $173,547.00 Labianca, Frank N $172,176.00 Dyroff, Matthew J $170,838.00 Grable, Robert M $169,179.00 Matthews, Andrew E $168,423.00 Shapiro, Peter G $166,458.94 Dwyer, William M $163,786.25 Nau-Ritter, Glynis M $163,702.00 Cardo, Roger P $160,367.00 Finnican, James B $157,424.07 Heil, Christopher W $157,176.00 Murphy, Robert J $152,167.66 Kulik, Gary J $150,604.25
There's 1 official Principal, 1 AP & I was told by a middle school parent that there are 3 ex-gym teachers that are no longer teaching, but currently acting as unofficial "Deans". That is just hearsay, though. I tried researching through the school's web site, but it only lists info for Principal & teaching faculty there. If anyone else has more info. Please post.