Huntington School District voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 17 to cast ballots on the proposed school budget for 2022/23, two capital reserve fund propositions and to elect two members to the board of education. Voting will be held at Huntington High School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The proposed budget totals $142,968,343, an increase of 2.62 percent over the current year’s spending plan. If the budget proposition passes, the tax levy will not increase from the current year’s $112,718,438. The tax rate is estimated to decline by 0.12 percent.
Budget highlights include:
• The proposed plan aligns with the district’s mission, vision and core beliefs.
• It expands K-12 instructional and support programs.
• Responds to student needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Considers the burden on taxpayers and the long-term financial outlook.
• Accounts for aid stemming from federal stimulus funding packages.
• Upgrades and enhances district infrastructure and facilities.
• Staffing additions include an innovation lab teacher at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School; a new high school art teacher along with a new secondary business teacher and computer science/technology teacher; a new elementary teacher, district-wide ENL teacher, elementary RtI math teacher and secondary special education teacher.
• Funds new classroom furniture and new vehicles for the buildings and grounds department.
• Allocates $625,000 for a solar project at Jefferson Primary School.
• Provides for standards based curriculum and resource updates.
• Supports new computer science curriculum components and courses.
• Funds a new video broadcasting program and facility at the high school.
• Contains monies for a new junior Virtual Enterprise program at Finley Middle School.
• Provides funding for the installation of air conditioning/climate control units in district classrooms.
• Provides for the continued expansion and replacement of instructional technologies.
• Funds 70 interscholastic athletic teams for students in grades 7-12 and provides for enhanced elementary grade level intramurals.
• Supports new Unified basketball and bowling programs.
• Funds a newly designed Innovation Lab program at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School.
• Continues the K-5 dual language program and the world language FLEX program.
• Contains monies for the SEARCH and Math Olympiad programs.
• Supports award winning fine and performing arts programs.
• Provides funding for the science research program, elementary science fairs and competitions, math fairs and contests, FIRST robotics and FIRST Lego League programs.
• Funds National History Day and mock trial programs.
• Supports the Electronic Gaming Federation’s e-sports program.
• Contains monies for new health and wellness initiatives promoting positive health habits.
• Provides for extensive supports for students with disabilities and English language learners.
• Funds drama and musical programs for students in grades 4-12.
• Provides for secondary career and technical education opportunities.
• Supports full service school counseling and college and career support.
• Funds skilled mental health staff and support programs.
• Provides for extensive internship and community service opportunities.
Capital Reserve Proposition
Residents will also have an opportunity to vote on a Building Improvement Fund/Capital Reserve Fund proposition that includes $6.640 million worth of projects. If voters support release of the funds, property taxes will not increase since the monies are already in place. No new revenues are required. The funds represent dollars previously provided to the district by taxpayers that weren’t needed to pay for regular school operations because of tight fiscal management and economizing. The source of the funding is the annual transfer of surplus monies from the district’s general fund to the two existing Building Improvement Funds.
The projects that will be on the May 17 ballot include:
Huntington High School
• Construct a new multi-sport turf athletic field: $2.725 million
• Partially replace the roof: $1 million
J. Taylor Finley Middle School
• Parking lot renovations; floor tile replacement in four offices and the common area: $375,000
Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School
• Partially replace the roof: $1 million
Flower Hill Primary School
• Upgrade electric service and switchgear: $350,000
• Install new gas/carbon monoxide detector: $30,000
Jefferson Primary School
• Upgrade electric service and switchgear: $300,000
Southdown Primary School
• Install new gas/carbon monoxide detector: $30,000
Washington Primary School
• Install two new boilers: $800,000
• Install new gas/carbon monoxide detector: $30,000
Total before bidding: $6.640 million
New Building Improvement Fund
Residents are also being asked to authorize creation of a new Building Improvement Fund when they go to the polls on Tuesday, May 17. The new fund would replace several similar ones that are expiring.
School officials are seeking permission to create the new fund for the purpose of completing district wide renovation and reconstruction projects. Establishing the fund will have no impact on taxes.
Use of successive Building Improvement Funds has allowed the Huntington School District to largely avoid the need for selling bonds and incurring debt service payments to update its facilities. The district has one of the lowest levels of debt of any school system on Long Island. By avoiding bonding, taxes have been kept lower than they otherwise would have been.
As is the case for the current funds, existing budget monies would once again be used to capitalize the new fund. If in any given year the district spends less money than it had originally anticipated, these surplus monies could be transferred by the Huntington School Board into the new Building Improvement Fund.
Monies contained in the Building Improvement Fund can only be used for capital projects, such as new school roofs, windows, doors, boilers, facility improvements, etc. None of the monies can be used for general school district expenditures.
If residents approve the proposition, the district would be authorized to create the new fund for a maximum term of 10 years. It can be capitalized by the transfer of up to $15 million in surplus budget funds and/or appropriations over its lifetime. Residents would still have to give permission before the district actually begins any project.
The district would be able to apply for state aid on any capital project it completes. The fund would also utilize existing monies and allow the district to avoid borrowing funds through a bond issue. Passage of the proposition will not increase taxes.
Trustee Election
Residents will also have an opportunity to elect two members to the Board of Education. Three of the candidates will earn three year terms commencing on July 1 and running through June 30, 2025. Current trustees William Dwyer and Michele Kustera are running unopposed for re-election.
Eligibility to Vote
To be eligible to vote in the election, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of Huntington School District for at least 30 days and be registered to vote in a general election or with the school district. For more information contact District Clerk Joanne Miranda at (631) 673-2126 or jomiranda@hufsd.edu.
A copy of the line-by-line proposed budget is available by visiting the Huntington School District’s website at www.hufsd.edu. A 16 page brochure containing information about the budget and capital propositions and profiles of the two Huntington School Board candidates has been mailed to all addresses in the district. The publication is also available on the district website.
Contact Superintendent James W. Polansky at jpolansky@hufsd.edu for more information about the budget and capital reserve propositions.
