Greenport School District Budget Passes, Turnout High

GREENPORT, NY - Greenport residents turned out in force to support their kids Tuesday, supporting a $17,930,820

school budget on Tuesday for 2016-2017.

The budget was approved 360 to 120, by 66.67 percent.

"Turnout was good. It was high," said Superintendent David Gamberg. "It's a real indication of continued support residents have for their district. Historically they've been very supportive and this result continues that. I'm very happy, very grateful to residents and their families. It means a lot of good things."

The total budget increase is 5.85 percent while the tax levy increase is 8.52 percent over the current year’s rate.

The Greenport Union Free School District is looking to pierce the cap, which means the budget had to pass by a supermajority, or 60 percent. The reason for the hike is to replace cuts in teachers and staffing that have been made over the past 10 years. The positions are being restored, not added, with a goal of creating additional opportunities for students, officials and supporters say.

According to Greenport School Superintendent David Gamberg, numerous budget presentations have been held over the past few months, providing detailed information over the course of many hours of time for residents, soliciting and considering feedback from the public.

The essence of the proposed budget is to restore teaching positions that have been lost over the years. There is nothing excessive included in the budget," he said.

For example, the district has a 34 year old tractor used for snow removal that would cost $56,000 to replace. "That was cut from the budget, so we will try to keep it working for a 35th year."

One of the eight to 10 positions being replaced, he said, is a reading teacher; the district does not currenlty have one.

"Student enrollment has gone up while losing those 10 teaching positions in the last nine years. The percentage of free and reduced lunch students has gone from 27 percent to over 70 percent during that same period of time," Gamberg said.

But at the same time, Greenport High School was ranked among the top in the nation, receiving a silver designation for the second time in three years. "This would not be possible without a strong foundation of teaching at the elementary level. That is what this budget is doing and why we need to pierce the cap."

School board election

BOE Incumbents Heather Wolf and Christina Volinksi ran unopposed for two open seats.