Voter's Guide: School Budgets and Boards of Education

All school year, community members have been gathering at Levittown and Island Trees Board of Education meetings, getting informed and voicing their opinions on the issues.

Tuesday, May 17 is the day it all comes down to- the school budget vote and Board of Education election for both districts.

Where to Vote:

• Levittown residents can vote at Gardiners Avenue School, Wisdom Lane Middle School, Levittown Memorial Education Center, Division Avenue High School, Northside School, East Broadway School, Lee Road School or Jonas Salk Middle School from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Island Trees residents can vote at Michael F. Stokes School from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Levittown Budget

• The Levittown School District proposed a $197,907,475 budget for the 2011-2012 school year. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no.
• This budget represents a 2.6 percent increase from 2010-11.
•  The projected tax levy increase is 3.4 percent.
• The increase in school taxes for the 2011-12 school year is projected to be about $227 for the average Levittown homeowner.
• The new budget includes full-day kindergarten, staggered school hours and a daycare program before school.
• To see itemized cuts, click here.
• If the budget does not pass, there is a $197,032,469 contingency budget. 
• The Levittown School District budget notice sent out last week to residents was incorrect. The budget notice listed the STAR savings at $1,908.10, when the correct amount is $1,620. This is two percent more than last year's $1587.80.

Island Trees Budget

• The Island Trees School District proposed a $57,315,640 budget for the 2011-2012 school year. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no.
• The projected tax levy is 2.99 percent.
• Cuts would be made to BOCES Occupational Education and co-curricular activities, but no secondary athletics are being cut.
•  The new budget includes a new technology initiative that would bring new computers to the district schools using 56 percent New York State Aid.
• For a budget recap, click here.

Levittown Board of Education

• Current Board of Education President Michael Pappas, Current Board of Education Vice President Peter Porrazzo and Citizens Budget Advisory Committee member Frank Ward are running unopposed. For a video interview with the candidates, click here.

Island Trees Board of Education

• Current Board of Education Vice President Ken Rochon will run against Gus Milonakis for seat one.
• Current Board member Robert Condela's term has ended and he will not be running again. Current Board member George Storm, Joseph Buda and Robert Vilbig will run for seat two.
• After Christine Holt resigned from the Board, George Storm was appointed to her seat. Now that Storm is running for seat two, Michael Kutzma, John Fontana and Daniel Donahue are running for seat three.
• Current Board of Education President Patricia Mahon is running against Brian Kelty for seat four.