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Budget 2016

Postal CustomerPort Washington NY 11050

Port Washington Union Free School District100 Campus DrivePort Washington, NY 11050

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Districtwide Points of PrideAcAdemicsTwo Schreiber High School students were named semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search.

Two Schreiber High School students advanced to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, while another advanced to the International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, and Environment) Project fair.

Five Paul D. Schreiber High School students have been recognized as finalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Ten Paul D. Schreiber High School students earned awards at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair.

Several Paul D. Schreiber High School students were honored with various awards in the area of social science research.

Port Washington UFSD was ranked No. 11 in NYS and No. 100 in the U.S. by Niche.com based on academics, quality of teachers, school resources, and student and parent reviews. Schreiber High School was also ranked No. 16 in NYS and No. 69 in the nation by Niche.com, using the same criteria.

ArtsThe Port Washington UFSD was selected for the 2016 list of Best Communities for Music Education in the U.S. by the NAMM Foundation.

Schreiber High School was selected as a GRAMMY Signature School semifinalist. The school was one of approximately 120 schools chosen by the GRAMMY Foundation from several thousand submissions throughout the U.S.

Four Schreiber High School students were selected as All-State musicians and represented the district at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference. Two were named as alternates and one was chosen for two instruments.

Seventy-eight students from throughout the district were chosen to perform in the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Festival at LIU Post.

Schreiber High School All-State musician Jordan Lerner was chosen to perform at the New York State Capitol as part of NYSSMA’s Music in Our Schools Month celebration.

Approximately 375 students in grades 4-12 performed in the district’s Band Spectacular at LIU Post’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.

Twenty-one students throughout the district were chosen to participate in the Art Supervisors Association All-County Art Show.

The photography of two Schreiber High School students was published in Photographer’s Forum Magazine’s “Best of College and High School Photography” edition.

Weber Middle School seventh-grader Caleb Thomas was the only set drummer chosen to perform in the Nassau Music Educators Association Division III All-County Jazz Band, amid a field of eighth-grade drummers.

Athletics And extrAcurriculArsAll varsity teams were named New York State Scholar-Athlete Teams.

Schreiber High School has been named a School of Distinction by the NYS Public High School Athletic Association for the past five years.

Fifteen athletes represented Schreiber High School in the NYS Public High School State Championships. Three athletes were named to the Newsday All-Long Island Team. Schreiber High School boasted a News 12 Citibank Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for the fourth year in a row. The boys and girls track teams will be represented by 12 athletes in the prestigious Penn Relays. The girls varsity soccer team was a county finalist for the first time in history. Five coaches were named Coach of the Year by their respective associations. Three teams have been the recipients of the Nassau County Officials Sportsmanship Awards. Three student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to compete in collegiate athletics next year.

Girls swimming, boys cross-country, boys swimming, girls bowling, boys winter track and girls winter track have been named conference or division champions, with spring athletics still in progress. More than 1,000 students are participating in interscholastic sports and intramurals at Schreiber High School. More than 700 students are participating in interscholastic sports and intramurals at Weber Middle School.

Meets Growing Staffing Needs with 0.80% Tax Levy Increase, Within Tax Levy Cap

After several months of discussion between the Board of Education and administration, and after listening to input from community members, the Board has adopted a proposed budget for 2016-17 that carries a tax levy increase of 0.80 percent, which is within the district’s tax levy cap. The proposed budget supports increased staffing needs of our growing student population, maintains educational excellence, and avoids cuts to various programs and services.

By identifying approximately $400,000 in new budget efficiencies and applying a combination of $400,000 from district savings and $450,000 in unexpended budget allocations from the 2015-16 budget, the Board can contain the tax levy increase at the state cap and at the same time provide necessary programs and services. An unanticipated increase in state aid has also been a significant factor in proposing a cap-compliant budget.

State funding initially scheduled to be cut through New York State’s Gap Elimination Adjustment has been restored for the 2016-17 school year. It is important to note that the district had experienced a significant loss in revenues, including $5.8 million in state aid cuts in six years resulting from the GEA.

“After listening to our community, we felt it was imperative to find a way to meet the needs of our growing student population,” said Board of Education President Karen Sloan. “The Board and administration were able to create new efficiencies in our budget that will not impact children. This, combined with additional state aid and the Board’s

decision to use additional unexpended funds, has enabled us to propose a budget that preserves all programs, meets our staffing needs and contains the tax levy increase to within our cap limit.”

If approved, the budget will fund an additional 15.7 staffing positions, of which 11.7 are instructional. These include four new elementary sections to address new students and lower existing class sizes, some of which exceed district guidelines. A fifth elementary section would be added through the reallocation of resources. Other instructional positions cover areas such as reading, physical education, special education, math, business and ESL. Non-instructional positions are allocated for full-time security. The proposed budget preserves co-curricular programs, including current athletic teams and popular student clubs. Additionally, the budget allocates $750,000 in the Transfer to Capital line to replace three rooftop heating/cooling units and two roof sections at Schreiber High School, provide an outdoor bathroom at the high school athletic field and conduct

floor tile abatement/replacement in selected areas of Guggenheim and Sousa elementary schools.

The budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at Weber Middle School from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend the public budget hearing on Tuesday, May 3 at Schreiber High School beginning at 7:30 p.m. To learn more about the budget, please read this newsletter carefully and refer to the district website at www.portnet.org.

4,900

10/11

4,9935,000

5,100

5,200

5,300

5,400

5,500

5,600

5,700

5,800K-12 Enrollment Growth

YEARProjections factor in kindergarten enrollment based on 2010-2015 migration births / actual enrollment

NU

MB

ER O

F ST

UD

ENTS

11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22

5,049

5,115 5,1545,184

5,380

5,4955,457

5,5445,593

5,695

PROJECTED

ACTUAL5,290

Proposed Budget Preserves High-Quality Programs

Weber students learn about genetic engineering using jellyfish DNA.

Voter registration Residents can register to vote in person at the district office at 100 Campus Drive, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., up until May 12.

Hours & Location(singLe PoLLing center) On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, residents may vote on the proposed 2016-17 budget between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. by voting ballot or machine. Once again, the district will utilize Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School, located at 52 Campus Drive at the intersection of Campus Drive and Port Washington Boulevard, as a single polling center. Residents can also vote in the election of three Board of Education trustees at this location.

For additional assistance or for voting information questions, please call the school district’s business office at 516-767-5010.

The district will host a budget presentation to inform residents about the proposed 2016-17 school budget. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Schreiber High School. Port Washington School District residents are invited to attend to learn more about the proposed budget.

Budget Presentation

Meeting

Members of Weber Middle School Science Olympiad teams won 26 medals at the Western Long Island Regional Science Olympiad. Six teams won first-place honors and one team qualified to compete at the NYS Science Olympiad.

The artwork of Schreiber High School students Diego Espinoza and Diane Werth is featured in the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County’s exhibit.

Manorhaven Elementary School was the only school on Long Island and one of only 12 in NYS to receive the 2015 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award for its commitment to incorporating physical activity into the school day.

5 6

On May 17, what do I have the opportunity to vote on?Eligible voters will have the opportunity to: vote on the proposed annual budget for 2016-17; elect three members to the Board of Education; and vote on a proposition (Prop. 2) for the sale of district-owned property. For details on Proposition 2, please see page 3.

What is the tax cap?In June 2011, New York State enacted a law that restricts the amount of money that municipalities and school districts can raise through their annual tax levies. Although this is often referred to as the “2 percent tax cap,” the actual tax cap for each school district varies, as the limit depends on a number of factors. The New York State maximum allowable tax cap average is the lowest it has been since the enactment of the cap law, largely due to a low rate of inflation. District debt service and capital expenses result in a 0.80 percent tax cap calculation for Port Washington in the 2016-17 school year.

Does the proposed tax levy increase meet the New York State cap? Yes. The proposed tax levy increase for 2016-17 is 0.80 percent, which is exactly the district’s tax levy cap for 2016-17.

Will the amount of taxes that individual homeowners pay only go up by 0.80 percent if the budget is approved?No. The tax levy determines how much money the district can ask of the community. The tax rate, however, is

determined by other factors, including the value of real estate.

Why does the tax levy for 2015-16 show a negative number in the pie chart? I thought the levy increase was advertised at 2.38 percent last year? After the Board of Education adopted, and the community approved the 2015-16 budget, county officials unilaterally reduced the overall tax levy by removing LIPA properties. At the same time, the county also forced the formula to adjust taxes in the homeowners’ classification of properties. While this issue has not yet been resolved, the district is formulating its budget and levy based on the most recent numbers provided by the county. The 55 school districts in Nassau County are currently in litigation with the county and LIPA.

What happens if voters defeat the proposed budget?If the proposed budget is defeated in May, the district has the option of putting up the same or a revised budget for revote. Should voters defeat a proposed budget in a second vote, the law requires districts to adopt a budget that carries a hard zero percent tax levy increase. Under this scenario, spending would be prohibited in specific areas, including community use of buildings, certain salary increases and new equipment purchases. However, due to fixed costs in the budget, additional cuts would have to be made, which could severely impact the programs and services provided to students. Based on enrollment growth, class sizes would also be impacted.

2014-15 Per PuPIl exPendIturestop 12 north shore long Island school districts

Source: The 48th Annual Study of the School Costs Based on 2014-15 School Costs, Nassau BOCES

Salaries 51.24%Equipment 0.78%

Contractual Services 8.93%

Material & Supplies 3.92%

Textbooks 0.40%BOCES 3.84% Debt Principal 3.00%

Debt Interest 1.32%Fringe Bene�ts 25.89%

Fund Transfers 0.68%

Salaries 51.24%

Equipment 0.78%

Contractual Services 8.93%

Material & Supplies 3.92%

Textbooks 0.40%

BOCES 3.84%

Debt Principal 3.00%

Debt Interest 1.32%

Fringe Bene�ts 25.89%

Fund Transfers 0.68%

ACTUAL BUDGET PROPOSED 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17GENERAL SUPPORTBoard of Education and District ClerkBoard of Education and District Clerk $28,553 $26,950 $27,950Annual Meeting & Vote $29,659 $45,500 $28,000

Central AdministrationSuperintendent’s Office $377,159 $382,170 $385,030

FinanceBusiness Admin, Treasurer & Audit $1,179,150 $1,200,844 $1,222,514

StaffLegal Services $254,334 $238,500 $238,500Personnel $528,170 $559,609 $561,640Records Management $8,750 $15,300 $12,000Public Information Services $72,306 $69,500 $71,000

Operations & Maintenance of Plant Salaries $5,262,628 $5,815,867 $6,000,668Equipment $35,205 $62,850 $77,350Supplies & Materials $472,598 $480,060 $479,240Contract Services $1,399,636 $1,005,290 $1,095,400Utilities $1,540,166 $1,880,000 $1,785,000Central Printing $120,046 $130,911 $124,661Central Data Processing by BOCES $21,596 $23,730 $23,000

Special ServicesInsurance $633,748 $663,600 $667,100Other Charges $714,688 $729,620 $741,995

INSTRUCTIONInstruction, Administration & Staff DevelopmentCurriculum Development $303,232 $318,170 $323,417Building Supervision $4,061,043 $4,160,640 $4,032,404Research, Planning & Staff Development $129,911 $212,400 $202,800

Classroom Instruction: Regular SchoolSalaries $44,438,157 $45,065,239 $46,010,002Furniture & Equipment $62,564 $143,193 $143,193Supplies, Materials & Contractual Expense $1,055,190 $1,224,652 $1,299,491Textbooks $571,214 $520,434 $672,165BOCES - Regular School $479,382 $574,720 $519,720

Classroom Instruction: Special EdSalaries $8,764,214 $9,258,496 $9,103,966Equipment, Books, Supplies, Contractual Expense $2,840,123 $3,098,000 $3,098,000Tuition - Non-BOCES Schools $3,607,294 $3,550,000 $3,650,000Tuition - BOCES Schools $3,144,522 $3,300,000 $3,300,000

Occupational EducationTuition $347,685 $420,000 $420,000

Adult Continuing EducationSalaries $148,827 $181,260 $188,015Equipment, Supplies & Contractual Expense $147,020 $182,000 $188,000

Instructional MediaSalaries $861,290 $869,107 $889,954Equipment & Furniture $0 $8,408 $8,428Contract Expenses & Supplies $165,556 $158,184 $153,234

Computers in EducationSalaries, Equipment, Software & Training $2,363,278 $1,912,907 $2,025,502

Pupil Services & ActivitiesGuidance $2,382,104 $2,510,138 $2,680,909Health Services - Public/Non-Public Schools $1,097,903 $1,152,703 $1,170,460Psychological Services $940,603 $956,720 $979,605

Pupil Personnel ServicesPersonnel Services $594,139 $568,727 $580,149Co-curricular Activities $526,236 $624,107 $592,643Interscholastic Athletics $1,401,233 $1,443,669 $1,459,897

TRANSPORTATION District Transportation $623,687 $631,584 $640,381Contract Transportation $4,447,036 $4,831,547 $4,791,820

UNDISTRIBUTED EXPENSESEmployee Benefits $12,956,674 $11,128,930 $9,618,991Social Security $5,368,531 $5,375,954 $5,665,100Insurance $17,498,965 $18,066,422 $19,527,308Unemployment Insurance $29,043 $99,000 $50,000Workers’ Comp & Benefit Trust $1,253,526 $1,192,408 $1,192,408Debt Service $5,783,168 $6,544,372 $6,646,442Interest: Tax Anticipation Notes $69,333 $336,000 $305,000

Interfund TransferSpecial Aid $195,684 $219,000 $219,000Capital Fund $750,000 $750,000 $750,000

TOTAL BUDGET $142,086,758 $144,919,392 $146,639,452

EXPENSE SUMMARY 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17General Support $12,678,392 $13,330,301 $13,541,048Instruction $80,432,719 $82,413,874 $83,691,954Transportation $5,070,722 $5,463,131 $5,432,201Undistributed $43,904,925 $43,712,086 $43,974,249

TOTAL $142,086,758 $144,919,392 $146,639,452

Budget Summary 2016-17

2016-17 revenue Summary

2015-16 revenue reviSed

State Aid$8,861,804

State Aid$7,549,008

Local Revenues Including LIPA

PILOT$7,087,177

Local Revenues Including LIPA

PILOT$7,554,259

District Savings

$850,000

District Savings

$1,000,000

Allowable Levy Limit

Increase$1,024,346

Allowable Levy Limit

Increase($620,195)

2016-17 Levy = $129,840,471 Allowable Levy Limit Increase + 2015-16 Levy

2015-16 Levy = $128,816,125 Allowable Levy Limit Increase + 2014-15 Levy

2016-17 Total Budget$146,639,452

2015-16 Total Budget$144,919,392

2015-16 Levy$128,816,125

2014-15 Levy$129,436,320

Facts about the ProPosed 2016-17 School Budget

OUR COMMUNITY values the high educational standards that define a Port Washington education. The proposed budget continues to maintain this educational excellence in the face of increasing student enrollment and other financial challenges.

The May 17 ballot contains a second proposition (Proposition 2) which, if approved by voters, will authorize the Board of Education to accept offers for the sale of a 4.6-acre parcel of district-owned property located along the north side of Middle Neck Road in Sands Point.

The property was deeded to the district by the U.S. Navy many years ago and is not being used by the district. If approved, the property would become available for future sale; however, any potential buyer would be subject to Board review and the Board reserves the right to reject any offer.

Any revenue from the sale of this land in Proposition 2 will be used to REDUCE the tax levy in subsequent years.

PROPOSITION 2

Overview:• The proposed budget for 2016-17 is $146,639,452.

• The proposed budget carries a tax levy increase of 0.80 percent, which is within the district’s allowable tax levy cap for 2016-17.

• Over the past several years, the total percentage of revenue provided through state aid has decreased from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent. This year, with the return of GEA aid, state aid is 6 percent of our budget.

The Proposed Budget:• Includes 15.7 additional staffing positions, of which 11.7 are instructional

positions (detailed on page 3).

• Calls for the addition of five new elementary sections, which will dramatically help lower class sizes. One of the five sections would be added through the reallocation of other resources.

• Maintains all current academic and co-curricular programs.

• Preserves all extracurricular activities, clubs, and athletic programs and teams.

• Allocates $750,000 in the Transfer to Capital line to replace three rooftop heating/cooling units and two roof sections at Schreiber High School, provide an outdoor bathroom at the high school athletic field, and conduct floor tile abatement/ replacement in selected areas of Guggenheim and Sousa elementary schools.

• Uses approximately $450,000 in unexpended 2015-16 budget allocations and an additional $400,000 from existing reserves.

ADDITIONAl STAffINg POSITIONSIncluded in the Spending Plan:

Daly artists show their creativity in class.

Sousa philanthropists support “Sweets for Soldiers.”

Guggenheim mathematicians roll the dice on Math Night.

South Salem acrobats demonstrate their skills in the Circus Project.

Manorhaven geographers learn the landscape of a new country.2 3 4

• One teacher at Daly (grade 1), one teacher at Guggenheim (grade 5), two teachers at Manorhaven (grades 3 and 4) and one teacher at Salem (grade 1). The addition of these positions will allow more elementary classes to stay within the district’s class size guidelines.

• Three English as a Second Language teachers (one elementary, one MS and one HS).

• One ENL-bilingual teacher (district-K).

• One guidance counselor (HS). This is a restoration of a position that was previously eliminated.

• Part-time elementary reading specialist at Guggenheim (.3).

• One math resource instructor (.5) at Guggenheim and (.5) at Manorhaven.

• Part-time physical education teacher

(to split time between Guggenheim,

Manorhaven, Salem and Daly). This

addition will slightly reduce the number

of students in each physical education

class at these schools (.4).

• One business instructor (Schreiber). This is a restoration of a position that was previously eliminated. Currently, an English teacher and a technology teacher, both of whom are dually certified in business, have taught business courses in addition to their core subjects. With the addition of a new business instructor, these teachers will be able to instruct an additional section of their core subject (English and technology), thereby reducing class sizes in these two subjects.

• Four security aides (districtwide). This will allow each school throughout the district to have a dedicated security presence.

Schreiber thespians perform “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”