Vote Today on Budget & Capital Reserve Propositions & Trustee Election

Huntington School District residents will go to the polls today, Tuesday, May 16 to cast ballots on the proposed school budget for 2023/24 and a capital reserve fund proposition 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 budget totals $146,347,091, an increase of 2.36 percent or $3,378,748 over the current year’s spending plan. If approved by residents, the 2023/24 budget would raise the tax levy by 0.69 percent.

It is estimated that the tax rate will increase from $251.31 to $253.05 per $100 of assessed valuation. The district is budgeting for assessed valuation to increase by $83,841 to $44,935,838 The average home in the district assessed at $3,357 would see an increase of $58.41 in school taxes prior to any STAR program savings.

Total state aid is projected to increase by $3,636,987 to $29,702,735 in 2023/24. The district is allocating $600,000 in surplus monies to hold down the tax rate.

The 2023/24 budget allocates monies for new text and print resources, new computer software, new library resources and new instructional equipment, including computers and tablet devices. It enhances academic programs, expands fine and performing arts opportunities and keeps extracurricular club and interscholastic athletic programs intact. It funds 72 interscholastic athletic teams and 105 coaching positions. 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 across the district. Depending on the grade level, current class size guidelines will either be maintained or lowered. The budget sets aside monies for several contingent teacher positions that can be filled should enrollment increase.

Proposed budget highlights also include:

• Expands the district’s computer science initiatives.

• Expands the high school’s video broadcasting program.

• Funds new high school humanities and science electives.

• Strengthens English-as-a-new language instructional services.

• Reduces elementary class sizes.

• Reconstructs high school greenhouse for academic use.

• Improves RtI reading and math support efforts.

• Provides an additional school counselor at Finley.

• Funds Unified athletic program.

• Creates a K-12 director of science and technology position

• Provides funds to hire a construction manager to oversee the district’s capital projects.

• Creates a student academic support advisor position at the intermediate grade level buildings.

• Maintains the district’s K-5 dual language and its world language FLEX program.

• Provides for a comprehensive special education program for students with disabilities and an assortment of support services for all students.

• Continues the SEARCH and Math Olympiad programs for fifth and sixth graders.

• Provides software and professional development for elementary iReady implementation.

Capital Reserve Proposition

Residents will also have an opportunity to vote on a Building Improvement Fund/Capital Reserve Fund proposition that includes $5.935 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 16 ballot include:

Huntington High School

• Lighting on new turf field: $985,000

J. Taylor Finley Middle School

• Reconstruction of two science rooms and a science prep room: $800,000

Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School

• Phase II of roof replacement: $1,200,000

• Pressure boost system: $200,000

Flower Hill Primary School

• Install two new boilers: $800,000

Southdown Primary School

• Install two new boilers: $800,000

Washington Primary School

• Update electrical service and switchgear: $350,000

• Install rooftop solar energy system and transformer: $450,000

District total: $5.935 million

Trustee Election

Residents will also have an opportunity to elect two members to the Board of Education. The top two vote-getters will earn three year terms commencing on July 1 and running through June 30, 2026. Current trustees Kelly Donovan and Xavier Palacios and challenger Amaru Jones are vying in the 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.