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Schools

New Suffolk Board of Education Approves Smaller Budget

The small district's proposed budget experiences a reduction from the 2010-2011 school year without program or staffing cuts.

New Suffolk Elementary School's proposed tax levy for its approved $747,168 2011-2012 budget is 23.5 percent less than that of the current year, and no programs are being cut.

“The reduction has not come as a result of reducing our staff or reducing any of the programs in the elementary school,” said Tony Dill, School Board President.

Instead, New Suffolk Elementary School board members predicted there will be less secondary education students in their district. Fewer high school students means the district will not pay as much tuition for those students to attend Southold Junior-Senior High School, since New Suffolk only houses pre-kindergarten through sixth grade classes.

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New Suffolk Elementary School’s 2011-2012 budget also features two reserve funds: the tuition reserve fund and the teacher personnel reserve fund. The district reserves $35,000 each year in the event that secondary education students move into the district over the summer.  The reserve holds enough funding for two additional high school students.

The teacher personnel reserve fund is a new fund for the upcoming school year. New Suffolk’s Teacher on special assignment, Martha Kennley, may not be able to return to her project at the Teacher Training Center next year.  Current uncertainty in staffing caused the Board of Education to consider this additional reserve fund in the district’s budget.

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The proposed tax levy also decreased because the projected textbook costs are about $5,600.00 less than last year’s projected values.  According to Superintendent Bob Feger, New Suffolk Elementary School buys new textbooks every four years, and the 2010-2011 school year was one of those years.  As a result, in 2011-2012 the district will not need to purchase as many textbooks. Also, said Feger, teachers now utilize alternative learning aides besides traditional textbooks.

Additional costs this year, which New Suffolk has not seen in past years, result from varied tasks on the district’s do-to list. The major undertakings include roof repairs, the required placement of energy-efficient light bulbs and equipment purchases for the multi-purpose room, which now serves as a classroom.   

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