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Health & Fitness

Miller Place BOE Budget: No FDK, Under Tax Cap

MP BOE presents a budget that considers the needs of all stakeholders in our community

The Miller Place Board of Education (BOE) adopted a budget tonight that did NOT include Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) resulting in a budget that will be supported by a 3.94% tax increase. The tax cap levy is 4.28% under the no-FDK scenario so this budget comes in under the tax cap.

I have publicly supported the addition of FDK but it is my opinion that the BOE made the correct decision at this time for the following reasons:

  1. The BOE cannot presently determine the long-term financial impact of FDK.
  2. It is possible that the State may increase expenses through increased pension funding or decrease aid – both of which could greatly impact future budgets and result in program cuts.
  3. There are labor contracts that are either expired (MPTA Chapter of Registered Nurses) or due to expire this summer (Miller Place Secretarial and Clerical Unit, Miller Place Operations’ Unit, and Miller Place Administrators’ Association) and there is no money built into this budget to cover increases that may occur due to new contracts.
  4. There are three BOE seats up for election. It is probably wise not to add FDK now and hand that financial burden off to three new members – some of which may not want FDK.


Some details from tonight’s meeting:

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BOE President Ports opened the meeting by reminding us all that this budget has NO CUTS and NO CONTRACT CONCESSIONS. Instead, we are discussing what this budget IS ADDING over last year. (Other Districts should be so fortunate. Thank you BOE for getting us to this better place after years of cuts, cuts, cuts.)

The BOE reached a consensus on the following initiatives from Supt. Higuera’s proposed budget:

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  • Academic Intervention Services - Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School
  • Academic Intervention Services - North Country Road Middle School
  • Curriculum Writing - transition to NYS K-12 Common Core Learning Standards
  • Music Program
  • Students with Disabilities Class (8:1:1) - Andrew Muller Primary School
  • Students with Disabilities Class (15:1) - Miller Place High School
  • Behavior Assistants – 2
  • Weekly Clubs at Andrew Muller Primary School (10 Advisors - 10 Weeks - 1 day per week)
  • Weekly Clubs at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School (10 Advisors - 10 Weeks - 1 day per week)
  • Mathletes and Drama at North Country Road Middle School
  • Mathletes, Mock Trial, School Newspaper, and Varsity Club at Miller Place High School
  • Intramurals at North Country Road Middle School
  • North Country Road Middle School - 3:15 Late Bus
  • Robotics - Annual Entry Fee and related expenses
  • Athletic Uniforms
  • Athletic Equipment

 

The BOE also reached consensus on the following:

  • Pull out the $38,000 earmarked for the assistant coaches and use these funds in an overall safety fashion. Are all of the assistant coaches really needed? An assistant coach for girls indoor track should also be considered in addition to those in Supt. Higuera’s proposed budget.
  • The proposed Middle School PT Monitor costs about $11,000. The BOE wishes to remove the earmark and use the $11,000 where best needed in the school.
  • If possible, add two electives to the High School. Supt, Higuera estimated that would cost about $30,000. She also stated that students are registering for courses now so once the number of students per elective is known then staffing will be known and the final cost of adding two electives will be more accurate.
  • Although a FT certified Librarian will not be added this year, it will be kept on the radar and will be revisited next year. The BOE wishes to be kept informed about whether or not we are adequately utilizing our library resources during the coming year.
  • Middle School Cheer would only be supported if the group could raise the funding in a timely fashion and that this policy is consistent with how other programs have been handled.

 

FDK was discussed in detail as the final budget item. I have attempted to capture the statements of each BOE member to the best of my ability below:

Ports:

  • Competent professionals have spoken about the need for FDK
  • The new Common Core dictates a real need for FDK
  • FDK can be nearly fully supported the first two years by state aid
  • Concerned about the long-term sustainability after year two
  • District is close to sustainability now but is still drawing from reserves so not quite there yet
  • This is not the year for implementation but will be on the table for next year’s budget

 

Neyland:

  • Agreed with all of the above by Ports
  • Wished to keep taxes as low as possible
  • Must always be assured of sustainability before making a large financial decision

 

Unger:

  • Agrees with all of the above (Ports and Neyland)
  • Thinks aid will still be available next year
  • Maybe a way to use this aid down the road as a three year cost instead of a two year cost

 

Magnani:

  • Supports FDK
  • Has seen many changes in education in his long term but thinks recent changes, esp. Common Core, requires us to move to FDK
  • He is not advocate of Common Core but “we are stuck with it” so we must give students and teachers the time needed to meet these new standards
  • Thinks we are putting our youngest students at risk by not implementing FDK
  • Will we be spending money on remediation when children get left behind

 

O’Brien:

  • Agrees with both sides of this issue
  • Also concerned about Common Core
  • Chooses to side with Ports, Unger, Neyland due to sustainability concerns

 

I will vote YES on this budget because I think the BOE has presented a budget that considers the needs of all stakeholders in our community.

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