Greenport School: Budget Breakdown for 2011-12

The Greenport School District Board of Education has adopted a $14,100,005 budget for the 2011-2012 school year. The budget will be presented to voters on Tuesday, May 17. The following is a breakdown of what’s included in the budget and programs that have changed. 

There are no reductions to school programming; however,a number of new programs have been included in this budget:

• A National Junior Honor Society for grades 6-8.
• A new elementary mathematics program.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science.
• Consumer Math.
• New elective offerings including Everything Italian, Into  Small Engines, Fashion Illustration, and Construction Systems.
• Computer technology instruction in grades 4, 5, and 6.
• Science Fair for grades 6-8.
• Varsity track and field.
• A second section of fourth grade and a third section of second grade.∙ One reading teacher assistant.

To offset spending the district had to find ways to fund the new programs and keep existing programs, so cuts were made. Greenport was one of the few schools in New York State not to have money in the reserve fund to offset budget costs. The district took the following steps to reduce the district’s spending:

• Both the high school and elementary school principals' salaries were frozen at the 2010 levels.
• The district changed health plans.
• Speech staff has been reduced by .5.
• Special education staff has been reduced by 2 (one teacher will move to an open slot in the elementary school and the other teacher will move to fill a high school vacancy).
• Reading staff has been reduced by 1.5 (one of the reading teachers will fill an elementary vacancy).
• There was  a reduction in extra class assignments including three high school English assignments and one high school math.
• Journalism and yearbook have been taken off the teaching schedule and are now clubs.
• The following is a breakdown of key sections in the budget. Instructional sections include salaries, supplies, dues, training, travel, and other miscellaneous costs.