Northport-East Northport School Budget, Board Preview For 2023-24

NORTHPORT, NY — Northport and East Northport residents are set to head to the polls on Tuesday, May 16.

The vote is scheduled at Dickinson Avenue, Fifth Avenue and William J. Brosnan schools, depending on your designated voting site, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Northport-East Northport School District's proposed spending plan for the 2023-24 school year is $183,038,428. That's a 2.91 percent increase from the current budget. The tax levy is $153,632,970, or a 1.99 percent increase from last year's.

Two Northport-East Northport Board of Education trustee seats are up for election in the 2023-24 school year. Trustees are elected for three-year terms and the elections are at-large.

The nominees are Amanda Cascio, David Badanes, and Donna McNaughton.

In the 2023-24 school year, the district plans to continue to address important structural updates, including districtwide roof replacements, HVAC renovations and districtwide asbestos abatements.

A proposition on the budget, if approved, would allow the district to expend $2,374,944 to perform the capital projects. The total cost of the four projects will be funded from the Capital Reserve Fund established in 2018 ($43,268) and the Capital Reserve Fund established in 2021 ($2,331,676). There is no additional tax on residents since the funds are in capital reserves.

"For many years, our district has worked toward our mission to 'educate, inspire and empower all students to pursue their aspirations and contribute as responsible members of society,'" Larry Licopoli, president of the Northport-East Northport Board of Education, wrote in a letter to the community. "With this mission in mind, the 2023-24 proposed budget was designed to maintain and enhance student programs and district infrastructure while considering the financial burdens facing the district."

Planned expenditures for next school year include additional resources and training for elementary literacy initiatives, co-teaching options and curriculum development for the grade six world language sequence.

The budget also includes an additional health teacher who will rotate among the district's four elementary schools to implement a grade-appropriate health curriculum.

The proposed budget maintains small class sizes, existing course offerings, staffing, and a commitment to student wellness and school security.

Inflation, including an increase of more than 15 percent in health insurance premiums and rising transportation contracts and fuel costs, were partially offset by staff reductions based on declining enrollment and retirements, Licopoli said.

The district budgeted for the Northport Middle School security vestibule, building roof replacements and updated playgrounds at each elementary school.

The district plans to install solar panels to offset electricity costs. This would come at no cost to residents, Licopoli said.

The district also plans to modernize its elementary food service program by replacing the kitchen equipment across all four elementary schools through the School Lunch Fund, which is also at no additional cost to the community.