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Schools

Herricks Board Debates 2013-2014 Budget Before Approval

Board of education discusses what is and what is not included in the budget.

During Thursday night’s meeting Herricks Board of Education at the community center, the board debated what would be included in the budget before making a final decision that will be voted on later this year.

Board member Brian Hassan said that the board tried to put back what they could to maintain programs.

“The cuts as well as what was put back were fair,” Hassan said. “We hope the community’s happy with the numbers and what we put back given the circumstances.”

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Of the initial restorations to the budget that were mentioned, there was an idea to bring back:

  • $132,000 for one Gemini program teacher
  • $10,000 for the high school drama program
  • $125,000 for an elementary school teacher
  • $170,000 for a kindergarten through 12th grade math coordinator
  • $20,698 for clubs for kindergarten through 12th grade

After a parent talked about the intramural program, board vice president James Gounaris mentioned maybe adding $11,000 toward that program would be worthwhile. Hassan then said that the board restored three-quarters of the drama budget so perhaps they should mirror that and give intramurals $15,000. It was noted that $117,000 was left in the budget.

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“That number is dangerously low for my comfort,” trustee Nancy Feinstein said.

Gounaris said the board wanted to keep $125,000 available in the budget to help make sure classes wouldn't be overcrowded. Feinstein agreed that there is a “real value” is not having classes of 30 students.

The board then decided to take $2,000 away from what was restored to the clubs to give that toward the intramural program, which will now have $13,000. That amount would be split as $6,500 for the elementary and middle schools and then another $6,500 for the high school.

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