Huntington School Board Notes
The Huntington School Board has adopted a budget for 2013/14 and sent it to residents for a vote by the community on Tuesday, May 21. The plan would increase spending over the current year by 2.55 percent to $114,707,235. It carries a tax levy increase of 2.83 percent, which meets the state's tax cap law. The tax rate would rise an estimated 3.52 percent.
Trustees adopted the budget by a 5-2 vote. Messrs. Richard McGrath and John P. Paci III voted nay. The district is once again faced with large increases in state retirement system costs and health insurance premiums. Officials are also budgeting for another drop in assessed valuation, which is expected to fall by $300,000 to $44,813,410.
Trustees also adopted school hours for 2013/14. The hours of Huntington High School (7:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.) and J. Taylor Finley Middle School (8:05 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.) will remain the same. The hours for Woodhull Intermediate School and the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School, should it open, are set for 8:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. The hours for Flower Hill, Jefferson, Southdown and Washington primary schools will be 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Trustees approved a meeting calendar for the 2013/14 school year. The reorganization meeting (followed by a regular business meeting) is set for Tuesday, July 2 at 6 p.m. in the Jack Abrams School auditorium.
Trustees accepted three sets of donations: The Huntington High School student government donated $9,653.10 for completion of the Victoria Gaines Memorial Playground at Washington Primary School; Huntington parent Ming Sun donated a Lobster Elite tennis ball machine worth approximately $1,100. It will be used at both the middle school and high school levels; The We Are Many Foundation donated $750 to Flower Hill School to purchase musical instruments, music sheets and art supplies.
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Approved a retirement request submitted by Woodhull School teacher aide Phyllis Kovacs, effective June 22.
• Granted a leave of absence for Huntington High School guidance counselor Bernadette Walsh, effective May 14 through approximately May 28.
• Approved a child care related leave of absence for Woodhull School music teacher Nicole Lynch for the 2013/14 school year.
• Approved Peggy Gallagher to work as a long-term substitute librarian at Woodhull School through approximately May 13.
• Authorized post-season pay for varsity boys' winter track and field coach Ronald Wilson and varsity girls' winter track and field coach Debra Cheskes.
• Approved Travis Smith to serve as a part-time Finley Middle School assistant wrestling coach.
• Authorized Louis D. Giani, Sr. to work as an athletic supervisor during the 2012/13 school year.
• Authorized teachers Angela Berner, Allison Daly-Muradyan, Donnamarie O'Shaughnessy, Kathleen Thompson and Carol Soskil to provide parent workshops related to the district's K-3 summer reading program. The teachers will be paid $48.97 per hour for as many as nine hours each. The program is funded through a Title I grant.
• Gretchen Hannon and Shari Harris were approved to work as clerical substitutes in the district on an as needed basis. They will be paid $10.50 per hour when they work.
• Approved a field trip for four students and teachers Lori Kenny and Dame Forbes to the National Science Bowl Competition at the 4H Conference Center in Washington, DC. The group will leave from Islip MacArthur Airport on April 25 and return on April 29.
• Approved an ancillary bid package for green chemical custodial supplies, maintenance and operations items, interactive whiteboards and related products, file management, athletic reconditioning, copiers-lease/purchase.
• Approved budget transfers from one account code to another to cover the costs associated with supplies at J. Taylor Finley Middle School ($2,000) and Southdown School printer cartridges ($900).
• Approved a contract with Cullen & Danowski to provide independent external auditing services during the 2013/14 school year for a fee of $44,800.
• Approved a health and welfare services agreement with the Elwood School District.
• Approved a consultant services contract with the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County at a rate of $100 for a Holocaust survival speaker.
• Approved a contract extension with Huntington Coach Corp. for the 2013/14 school year at an increase equal to the applicable Consumer Price Index figure under the same terms and conditions, provided there are no material changes from the current school year levels of service.
• Approved a consultant services contract with the New York Hall of Science at a rate of $200 per one-hour science lab for fourth grade classes in the district.
• Approved the Huntington School District's property tax report card for 2013/14.
• Approved a special education services contract with the Smithtown School District.
• Approved a consultant services contract with South Oaks Comprehensive Behavioral Health Continuum.
• Awarded 106 slots for universal pre-kindergarten program services to the Family Service League and 18 slots to Developmental Disabilities Institute for the 2013/14 school year.
• Approved a time and materials bid package for air conditioning units service and repair, air duct cleaning, automatic temperature controls service and repair, annual boiler inspection- cleaning and repair, emergency call-out boiler repair, carpet cleaning-repair and replacement, cesspool, septic tank waste line, sewer-jet repair, chalkboard resurfacing, clock, district sound systems and intercom system, electric motor repair, electrical services, elevator services-inspection and repair, fencing repair and replacement, fire alarm system inspection and repair, fire extinguisher and smoke detector repair and replacement, floor tile repair and replacement, folding doors repair and replacement, general construction repairs and carpentry, graffiti removal and power cleaning, HVAC services, landscape maintenance, locker repair and replacement, locksmith services, concrete and masonry, macadam (repaving), painting, pest control services, plumbing, pump repair, refinish stage and gym wood floors, roof repair and replacement, scoreboard/bleacher and gym equipment inspection, stage curtain and draperies, vehicle repair, venetian blinds repair and replacement, welding, window glazing and glass replacement, window shade repair and replacement, fire sprinkler system inspection and repair, moving services, playground equipment inspection and repair, refrigeration equipment maintenance and inspection, security services, textbook freight consolidation, custodial equipment inspection and service, repair and maintenance of audio-visual equipment, repair of commercial kitchen hot equipment, burglar alarm system inspection and repair, outdoor track-tennis court inspection and service and tree removal and pruning service.