Huntington School Board members have unanimously adopted a budget to fund district operations during the 2021/22 school year and placed it on the Tuesday, May 18 ballot. The budget carries the lowest tax levy increase in decades.
The adopted budget continues all academic programs and keeps the art, music, physical education, extracurricular club and interscholastic athletic programs intact. It fully funds the Blue Devil marching band, elementary and secondary grade level bands, orchestras and ensembles and district drama clubs, the science research program, robotics and mock trial initiatives and other academic and co-curricular offerings.
Student bus transportation based upon current mileage guidelines will also continue. The plan provides funds to implement strategic improvements to the academic and co-curricular offerings. Current class size guidelines will be maintained. The budget sets aside monies for several contingent teacher positions that can be filled should enrollment increase.
The budget funds tools for implementation of new computer science standards along with revised standards in all core disciplines. It also furthers STEM initiatives throughout the district.
“Our community’s endurance has amazed me over the last 15 months, as we continue to work collaboratively in the best interest of our students and staff,” Huntington School Board President Christine Biernacki said. “There is much work ahead, but I have complete confidence that together we can accomplish every goal established for our district and narrow educational gaps that may have become more prominent in the pandemic’s wake. I believe Superintendent Jim Polansky and his team have crafted a budget that sets the stage for success in these and so many other regards and I thank them for their outstanding work.”
The budget totals $139,315,854, an increase of 2.48 percent over the current year’s spending plan. If approved by residents, the 2021/22 budget would raise the tax levy by an estimated 0.33 percent.
A home assessed at the district average of $3,400 would see an increase of $28.22 before STAR program savings are applied.
It is estimated that the tax rate will go from $250.46 to $251.29 per $100 of assessed valuation, an increase of 0.33 percent. The district is budgeting for assessed valuation to hold steady at $44,856,565. The final tax rate will be set in the fall after the district receives final figures from the town assessor.
The 2021/22 budget allocates monies for new text and print resources, new computer software, new library resources and new instructional equipment, including computers and tablet devices.
The adopted budget also includes monies to allow for augmented core curricular and digital resources, enhanced social and emotional learning program, expanded library and digital media programs, elementary guidance program extension and facility and technological upgrades.
The budget funds more than five dozen interscholastic athletic teams and about 100 coaching positions along with intramural activities at the elementary grade levels.
Total state aid is projected to increase by $6,139,648 to $22,166,741 in 2021/22. The district is allocating $1.6 million in surplus monies to hold down the tax rate.
“The budget includes staffing and programmatic increases in areas we have long hoped to expand, including additional faculty for core subjects, electives, English as a New Language and special education,” Mrs. Biernacki said. “It also includes additional student support professionals who will help address students’ heightened social and emotional needs.”
Huntington School Board members will hold a hearing on the 2020/21 budget plan on Monday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m.