tuesday, May 17, 2016 7 a.M.-9 p.M.

B u d g e t Ne ws l et t e r 2 0 1 6
ProPosed Budget Is tax CaP-ComPlIant,
maIntaIns Programs and enhanCes FaCIlItIes
A Message from the Superintendent
of Schools and Board of Education
On Tuesday, April 19, the Board
of Education adopted a budget that
continues to build on the 3 P’s –
programs, people and plant – and
maintains all programs and services
while meeting the instructional and fiscal
challenges of today. It is a goal of the
Board and administration to align the
budget to areas that support all facets
of our school district. Highlights of the
proposed budget can be found on page 2.
The Board of Education and district
administration worked closely to
develop a budget that promotes student
achievement, enhances facilities and is
fiscally responsible. The proposed budget
calls for a 0.18 percent tax levy increase,
which stays within the tax levy cap and
once again represents one of the lowest
tax levy increases on Long Island. Having
stayed within the tax levy cap, the budget
requires a simple majority vote of 50
percent plus one for approval. In addition
Budget Vote
to the school budget vote and trustee
election, voters will be asked to vote on
a Capital Reserve Fund for Building
Improvements.
The proposed budget is a product of
collaborative efforts. School, staff, parents,
business leaders and community members
at large have joined with administration
through work on Finance, Facilities and
Curriculum Committees, or offered input,
information and insight through a number
of formal and informal meetings, to ensure
a budget that is responsive to the needs of
our children and community. We have not
only developed a fiscally prudent spending
plan, but also found additional cost savings
through efficiencies. Transportation,
Special Education and energy conservation
are some areas where efficiency initiatives
have been implemented, saving the district
millions of dollars.
Illustrating the district’s commitment
to fiscal responsibility, the Office of the
State Comptroller recently completed
an audit of the district’s purchasing
process. The Comptroller’s Report,
having no recommendations, commended
District Officials for complying with
the statutory requirements, as well as
designing a purchasing process that enables
competitive methods for the procurement
of goods and services.
It has often been said that the greatest
emotional investment we make is in
our children, and the greatest financial
investment is in our homes. A quality
school system protects both of these
investments and serves to enhance the
quality of life in any community.
We encourage you to visit our district
website, www.hicksvillepublicschools.org,
to view additional information about the
budget, along with student success stories
and information on our schools. Please
remember to vote on Tuesday, May 17. We
hope to see you at the polls!
Sincerely,
Phil Heckler, President
Kevin J. Carroll, Vice President
Brenda Judson, Secretary
Steven Culhane
James Mott
Patrick Stines
Michael Beneventano
Dr. Carl Bonuso
Superintendent of Schools
tuesday, May 17, 2016
7 a.M.-9 p.M.
Continuation
THE
PROGRAMS
PEOPLE
PLANT
Three P’s
OF THE
The key to the effective operation of any school is the facilitation of a synergy
between the various departments that oversee programs (instruction/curriculum),
people (human resources) and plant (facilities/finance). It is through cooperation
and partnership that a school’s shared vision and common purpose are realized.
These items are not directly associated with a financial impact. The list below is
focused on the three components. These initiatives over the next year will help bring
our students, staff and facilities into 21st-century learning.
PROGRAMS:
Refers to the ways in which courses and
curricula throughout the district have been or
will be enhanced this year, whether through
the integration of new technology or the
implementation of new character education
initiatives. Programs focus on how district
offerings complement student development.
The proposed 2016-2017 budget includes:
• New District General Education Pre-K
Program
• Two AM and two PM classes at Dutch
Lane School
• New High School Courses
• Wearable Electronics
• Social Science Research
• Pre-Advanced Placement World History
Grade 9
• New Middle School Courses
• Wearable Electronics
• Special Topics in Humanities
• New Middle School Initiatives
• Living Environment for 8th Grade
• Advisor/Advisee Program Grades 6-8
• New Textbooks
• Pre-Advanced Placement World History
Grade 9
• Continuation of the DOSHI STEM
Program (15 students)
• Expansion of Vocational Education
Opportunities (47 students)
• Elementary Desktop & Mobile Device
Initiative
• Continuation of 1:1 Chromebooks at the
High School
PEOPLE:
Refers to the professional development of
the district’s teachers. Through workshops,
seminars and coaching, the fundamentals of
leadership and teamwork are reinforced to
ensure that staff members continue to learn
effective teaching methods.
• Continuation of Reading Street Coaching
Workshops
• Continuation of 1:1 Coaching for Writing
Workshop
• Integration of Technology into the
Curriculum
• Smart Boards and 1:1 Devices
• Integrating Curriculum & Assessment K-12
• Instructional Strategies to Meet the Needs of
Diverse Learners
• Instructional Strategies and Supports Within
the Common Core
• AESOP – Online absence reporting/
substitute management system
• My Learning Plan (MLP) - Online
professional development approval, planning
and tracking management system
• MLP-OASYS – Online observation and
evaluation process management system
PLANT:
Grounds maintenance, facility
improvements, security upgrades — these
are all ways that Plant progress creates an
environment that is not only academically
stimulating, but also aesthetically pleasing, safe
and sound.
The proposed maintenance budget of
$404,084 includes:
• Burns Avenue – Interior door replacement
• Dutch Lane – Interior door replacement,
gym wall matting replacement, steam trap
replacement
• East Street – Interior door replacement, stage
curtain cleaning – APR and gym, gym wall
mat repair
• Fork Lane – Interior door replacement,
asphalt repair at small playground
• Lee Avenue – Interior door replacement,
asphalt repair at small playground
• Old Country Road - Interior door
replacement, asphalt repair behind gym and
driveway
• Woodland Avenue – Interior door
replacement, gym ceiling installation, Room
2
123 ceiling abatement and installation
• Hicksville Middle School – Interior door
replacement, locker repair and repainting
• Hicksville High School – Interior door
replacement, lock repair and repainting,
boys’ and girls’ locker painting
• Districtwide – Refinish all gym floors,
painting, venetian blind replacement as
needed, playground repair as needed
PLANT – CAPITAL BUDGET:
The proposed capital budget of $1,092,188
includes:
• Burns Avenue – Ceiling and lighting
replacement
• East Street – Ventilation and masonry repair
• Hicksville Middle School – Exterior Yankee
gutter repair
• Hicksville Middle School – Sidewalk
replacement
• Hicksville High School – Roof replacement
• Hicksville High School – Third floor tile
replacement
• Districtwide – Exterior door replacement,
ceiling and lighting replacement
PLANT – CAPITAL RESERVE FOR BUILDING
IMPROVEMENTS*:
The proposed capital budget of $2,650,000
includes:
• Replacement of exterior bleachers and
viewing platform with new exterior bleachers
and press box
• Reconstruction of existing boys’ and girls’
locker rooms
• Reconstruction of existing baseball field and
softball field, including installation of new
synthetic turf
* These projects are funded out of a reserve at
NO ADDITIONAL COST to the taxpayer.
Budget Propositions and Capital Reserves
Q. What is a Capital Reserve?
A. A Capital Reserve is a “savings account,” separate
from the operating budget, used to finance various
projects. The money can only be used for the reasons
explained in the establishment of the Reserve, such as
building improvements, and it must be authorized by
the voters.
Q. How does a Capital Reserve help the District and
the Community?
A. Using money from the Capital Reserve keeps the
budget-to-budget increase lower. Projects normally
funded through the operating budget can be removed
and funded through money already in the Reserve at
no additional cost to the taxpayer.
Q. What is Proposition No. 2?
A. Proposition No. 2 asks the voters to do several
things: to establish a Building Improvement Capital
Reserve; and to fund it by transferring $80,544 and
$192,547 of unused balances from the 2008-09 and
2010-11 Capital Reserves, $15,766 from unused
balances in the 2008-09 capital appropriation, and
$2,361,143 of unexpended surplus from the 201516 school year into the Capital Reserve for a total
of $2,650,000. It also asks the voters to authorize
the Board to utilize the funds for specific building
improvement projects. This proposition represents no
additional cost to the taxpayer.
Q. For what projects will the funds identified in
Proposition No. 2 be used?
A. The funds will be used for building improvement
projects at the high school, including the installation of
new exterior bleachers and press box, reconstruction of
the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, and the installation of
synthetic turf baseball and softball fields.
Q. If the budget is not approved by the voters and
the proposition is approved, will the project move
forward?
A. No, it will not. The projects contained in the
proposition are contingent upon the approval by the
voters of Proposition No. 1.
Proposition No. 1 – School Budget Vote
Shall the School District Budget, in the amount of $132,332,014
pursuant to Education Law Section 1716, be approved, and a tax on
the taxable property of the District in the amount of such Budget,
less State and Federal Aid and revenues from other sources, be levied?
Proposition No. 2 – Capital Reserve for
Building Improvement
In the event the voters approve the School Budget contained in
Proposition 1, shall the Board of Education be authorized to (1)
establish the 2016 Capital Reserve Fund (“2016 Fund”) effective
June 30, 2016, in the ultimate amount of $2,650,000 including
interest thereupon for the purpose of the replacement, improvements
and/or upgrades to the Hicksville High School athletic fields,
athletic bleachers and related facilities, and locker rooms, including,
but not limited to, installation of exterior bleachers and press
box, reconstruction of locker rooms, and installation of synthetic
turf baseball and softball fields, as well as architect and project
management fees, ancillary or related work required in connection
therewith, for a probable term of three (3) years; (2) fund the 2016
Fund by: dissolving the 2008-2009 Capital Reserve Fund and
transferring the remaining $80,544 to the 2016 Fund; dissolving
the 2010-2011 Capital Reserve Fund and transferring the remaining
$192,547 to the 2016 Fund; transferring the amount of $15,766
from excess budgetary appropriations for capital projects in the
2008-2009 school year; and transferring $2,361,143 of unexpended
surplus from the 2015-16 school year budget; (3) undertake during
the 2016-2017 school year the following projects consisting of
installation of new exterior bleachers and press box at Hicksville
High School, reconstruction of boys’ and girls’ locker rooms at the
Hicksville High School, and installation of synthetic turf baseball
and softball fields at the Hicksville High School, ancillary or related
work, site work and fees required in connection therewith; and (4)
expend therefor during the 2016-2017 school year an amount not
to exceed the estimated aggregate maximum cost of $2,650,000,
provided that the detailed costs of the components of the projects as
set forth herein may be reallocated among such components if the
Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the
best interests of the District provided, however, that the aggregate
amount to be expended shall not exceed the $2,650,000 estimated
aggregate maximum cost of the projects and that no material change
shall be made in the scope of the projects? This Proposition is
contingent upon approval of the voters of Proposition No. 1.
Proposition No. 3
In the event the voters approve the School District Budget
contained in Proposition No. 1 above, shall the sum of $60,000
be appropriated to the Hicksville Gregory Museum for educational
services associated with its programs and a tax be levied on the
taxable property of the District in that amount?
This Proposition is contingent upon approval by the voters of
Proposition No. 1.
3
Points of
Pride
• 96.8% of 2015 graduates received Regents diplomas.
• 39.0% of 2015 graduates received Regents diplomas with Advanced Designation.
• 90.8% of 2015 graduates were college-bound.
• 60 students were designated by the College Board as AP Scholars, four as National AP
Scholars, 30 as AP Scholars with Distinction and 13 as AP Scholars with Honors.
•Two students were named National Merit Commended Students.
• 107 students were inducted into the National Honor Society.
• 458 students were inducted into the English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World
Languages and Fine Arts Honor Societies.
• One high school and four middle school students were named Long Island Scholars of
Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students.
• Students earned second place at the 2016 Feinstein Institute Medical Marvels
Competition.
• Students earned one gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the Long Island Math
Fair.
• 120 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
• Five middle school students received high honors from the Johns Hopkins Center for
Talented Youth.
• German language students earned five first-place, two second-place and five third-place
awards at the Sprachfest contest.
• District was named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of
Music Merchants and the University of Kansas.
• 70 students were selected for All-County Chorus, Orchestra and Band.
• Five students were selected to participate in Long Island String Festival Association concerts.
• 45 students’ artwork was selected for the All-County Art Exhibition at Farmingdale State
College.
• Four students received Awards of Excellence for Art at the LI Art Teachers Association
K-12 Art Exhibition.
• One student received an Award of Merit for the Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar Artist
Program.
• One student earned first place in Nassau County in the Patriot’s Pen essay contest.
• One student was among only 40 across New York State invited to complete a rigorous
course of study at the New York State Summer School of the Arts School of Media Arts.
• One elementary student earned first place in the New York State Recycles Poster Contest.
• One elementary student earned first place in the New York State Arbor Day Poster Contest.
• Both the middle school and high school Science Olympiad teams qualified for state
competitions.
• The middle school’s Robotics team earned a Teamwork Award and an Alliance Award.
• The high school’s Robotics team earned the General Motors Industrial Design Award.
• 19 varsity teams were named New York State Scholar/Athlete Teams.
• District won one county championship in soccer.
• 21 students were designated as All-County athletes.
• Three student-athletes received All-Long Island designation.
• Eight students were designated as All-State athletes.
• 62 student-athletes earned postseason awards.
• One team was the winner of the Nassau County Team Sportsmanship Award.
• One team received the Nassau County Team Spirit Award.
• 12 teams reached postseason tournament.
• Two students signed National Letters of Intent to continue athletics at various institutions.
• High school art teacher Beth Atkinson was named a Distinguished Teacher of 2016 by the
Harvard Club of Long Island.
4
2016-2017 Budget Summary
General Support*
Instructional Support
Pupil Transportation**
Recreational Program*** Community Services**** Undistributed and Other Debt
2014-2015
2015-2016Proposed
BudgetBudget
2016-2017 budget
$14,260,687 $68,789,158
$8,362,604
$207,624
$70,472
$36,245,408 difference
$14,383,038
$72,133,896
$8,625,319
$202,624
$69,722
$34,698,536
$14,407,042
$73,693,710
$7,634,340
$207,625
$68,656
$36,320,641
$24,004
$1,559,814
($990,979)
$5,001
($1,066)
$1,622,105
GRAND TOTAL
$127,935,953
$130,113,135
*Third year of a three year lease-to-purchase wide area mower the cost of which is $14,258
**First year of a five year contract, the total cost of which is estimated to be $7,066,319
***Self-sustaining program; revenue included below in Charges for Services.
****If approved, Proposition No. 3 would add $60,000 to this figure.
$132,332,014
$2,218,879
Proposition No. 3
Hicksville Gregory Museum
TOTAL
2014-2015
2015-2016
Proposed
BUDGET
Budget
2016-2017 Budget
Difference
$50,000
$50,000
$60,000
$10,000
$127,985,953 $130,163,135 $132,392,014$2,228,879
REVENUE REVIEW
2015-2016
Proposed budget
2016-2017 BUDGETDIFFERENCE
Real Property Tax
$98,762,495
$98,937,594
$175,099
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
$7,119,758
$7,232,351
$112,593
Charges for Services
$1,550,500 $1,550,500
Use of Money and Property
$675,000
$700,000
$25,000
Sale of Property and Comp
$75,000
$75,000
Miscellaneous$285,000 $285,000
State Sources - Net Foundation Aid
$9,778,810
$11,230,800
$1,451,990
BOCES
$989,315
$896,245
($93,070)
Miscellaneous State Aid
$5,358,257
$5,602,524
244,267
Fund Balance Applied
$2,500,000
$2,813,000
$313,000
Reserves Appropriated
$3,069,000
$3,069,000
TOTAL
$130,163,135
$132,392,014
$2,228,879
Proposed
2016-2017 BUDGETDIFFERENCE PERCENTAGE
TAX LEVY
Budget (Excluding Gregory)
Non-Tax Revenue Fund Balance Applied
Reserves Applied Amount to Be Raised by Taxes Assessed Valuation
2015-2016
BUDGET
$130,113,135
$25,831,640
$2,500,000
$3,069,000
$98,712,495
$9,068,908
$132,332,014
$27,572,420
$2,813,000
$3,069,000
$98,877,594
*$8,996,640
$2,218,879
$1,740,780
$313,000
-
$165,099
($72,268)
1.71%
6.74%
12.52%
0.00%
0.17%
-0.80%
*Tentative assessment to be finalized by Nassau County Department of Assessment by approximately September 2016. 5
Hicksville Ranking
Hicksville — Among the LOWEST
Tax Rates in Nassau County
The 2015-2016 tax rates for Nassau County showed that
Hicksville was ranked ninth lowest out of 54 school
districts. Only eight other school districts had lower tax rates
than Hicksville.
Senior Citizen Exemption
The Current Sliding-Scale
Exemptions Apply as Follows:
Income
P ercent Exemption
Up to and including $29,000
50%
$29,001—$29,99945%
$30,000—$30,99940%
$31,000—$31,99935%
$32,000—$32,89930%
$32,900—$33,79925%
$33,800—$34,69920%
$34,700—$35,59915%
$35,600—$36,49910%
$36,500—$37,399
5%
Star Property Tax Exemption
Residents of Hicksville Public Schools may be eligible to apply for
the New York State Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR Property Tax
Exemption Program. If you are a homeowner with your Hicksville
property as your primary residence, you may apply to the Nassau
County Board of Assessors at 516-571-1500 or refer to the
Department of Assessment page on the Nassau County website at
www.nassaucountyny.gov.
Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption
Hicksville Public Schools demonstrates its support of our
senior community by adopting the Senior Citizen Property Tax
Exemption, which provides partial property tax relief on a slidingscale basis to residents meeting the required criteria. Applications
for this exemption must be made on or before January 2 of each
year to the Nassau County Department of Assessment, 240 Old
Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501. For further information, contact
the Department of Assessment at 516-571-1500 or refer to the
Department of Assessment page on the Nassau County website at
www.nassaucountyny.gov.
Revenue Breakdown
Three-Part Expenditure Budget
State Aid 13.4%
Administrative
12.71%
Applied Fund
Balance
2.1%
Appropriated
Reserves 2.3%
Local Sources
7.5%
Capital
13.19%
Program
74.10%
Property Tax
74.7%
6
What is the “tax levy limit” or “tax cap”?
The tax cap calculation is a complex
multistep formula that determines the
level of voter approval required to pass
the budget. The factors include property
growth in the district, Payments in
Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), and various
exemptions, including certain capital
expenditures, transportation equipment,
expenditures for some court orders and
contributions toward employee pensions
above a certain amount. While the tax
levy limit is often referred to as a 2
percent tax cap, it is actually the lesser of
2 percent or the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). The calculation for 2016-17 is
based on a CPI of 0.12 percent.
What are Payments in Lieu of Taxes
(PILOTs), and how do they affect the
calculation of the tax levy limit?
The Industrial Development Agency
offers incentives to manufacturing,
industrial and not-for-profit companies to
remain and do business in Nassau County.
Through these agreements, properties
are exempt from property taxes and
instead make a Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILOT) directly to the IDA. The district
receives the school tax portion typically in
accordance with a 10- or 15-year payment
schedule. The 2015-2016 Proposed Tax
Levy of $102,490,756 was reduced by
Nassau County by $3,760,160, which
was billed to LIPA as a PILOT. This also
reduced our Tax Levy by the same amount.
Is the proposed budget compliant with
Hicksville’s tax levy limit for 2016-17?
Yes. The proposed budget carries a
tax levy increase of $175,099, or 0.18
percent. This requires a simple majority
approval (50 percent of the vote plus
1). If the district were to propose a
tax levy increase above 0.18 percent, a
supermajority approval of 60 percent
would have to be attained.
What is a contingency budget and how
would one affect our schools?
If voters decide not to approve the
proposed 2016-17 budget, the Board
of Education will have the option of
presenting the district’s spending plan for
a second vote. If defeated a second time,
a contingency budget must be adopted.
Under the tax cap rules, a contingency
budget requires a $0 increase in the tax
Budget Within the Tax Levy Limit
Tax Levy Limit.....................................................................................$95,980,580
Maximum Allowable Levy.................................................................$98,937,594
Less: Gregory Museum...........................................................................($60,000)
Maximum District Levy.....................................................................$98,877,594
Estimated Revenues...........................................................................$27,572,420
Applied Fund Balance........................................................................... $2,813,000
Applied Reserves*................................................................................ $3,069,000
Total District Budget.......................................................................$132,332,014
Tax Levy Increase - Dollars............................................................... $175,099
Tax Levy Increase - Percent..................................................................... 0.18%
*District Financial Plan provides for $3,069,000 to be applied in
each of the next three years to mitigate the impact of budget expenditures.
7
levy. To achieve a contingency budget, the
district would need to cut $175,099 from
the proposed budget.
Significant cuts would be necessary to
achieve a contingency budget. Districts are
required to eliminate all planned equipment
purchases and non-health and safety-related
maintenance projects, as well as community
use of school facilities.
In what ways has the district shown
efficiency and savings?
The district realized savings in energy
efficiencies by implementing Phase I of a
Gas Conversion project at Woodland, East
Street, and Lee Elementary Schools and
the High School. Pending SED approval,
phase II is scheduled to be implemented at
Dutch Lane, Burns Avenue, Old Country
Road and Willet. The district brought
many special education students to back
to district for their education, providing
a better and less restrictive learning
environment and generating cost savings
for the district. The district also rebid its
transportation contract and purchased
new routing software. Totaled, these
efficiencies saved the district in excess of
$1 million.
The Hicksville Public Schools
Administration Building
200 Division Avenue
Hicksville, NY 11801
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HICKSVILLE
NEW YORK
PERMIT NO. 126
Board of Education:
Phil Heckler, President
Kevin J. Carroll, Vice President
Brenda Judson, Secretary
Trustees:
Steven Culhane
James Mott
Patrick Stines
Michael Beneventano
****ECRWSS****
Postal Customer
Hicksville, NY 11801
Dr. Carl Bonuso
Superintendent of Schools
o
Remember t
Vote
Budget Vote &
BOE Trustee Election
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Election District Locations
and Contact Info
Burns Avenue School:
516-733-2311
District No. 1
Lee Avenue School:
516-733-2351
District No. 4
East Street School:
516-733-2321
District No. 2
Fork Lane School:
516-733-2341
District No. 5
Woodland School:
516-733-2331
District No. 3
Dutch Lane School:
516-733-2361
District No. 6
Old Country Road School:
516-733-2301
District No. 7
HICKSVILLE LIBRARY VOTE
Once again, voters will be asked to vote on the Hicksville
Public Library budget and election of library board trustees at the
same time as the school district budget vote and trustee election.
The Hicksville Public Schools and the Hicksville Public Library
are two separate entities. The ballots for the library vote will be
included in the voting booth on the day of the school budget vote.
The consolidation of voting for the two entities represents a cost
savings as well as a convenience to residents.
Voting Information
A voter shall be entitled to vote at any school meeting for the
election of school district trustees and school budget, and upon
all other matters which may be brought before such a meeting,
who is:
• A citizen of the United States.
• A resident of the district for a period of 30 days preceding the
meeting at which he/she is to vote.
• 18 years of age or older.
• Currently registered with the school district or has voted in
the general election in the last four years.
Absentee Ballots
Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained at the office
of the district clerk at 200 Division Ave., any school day between
9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Completed applications must be received by
the district clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the
ballot is to be mailed to the voter. All absentee ballots must be
returned to the District Office no later than 5 p.m. on the day of
the vote. Absentee ballots will be issued for those reasons stated
in the Education Law, Section 2018-A.
www.hicksvillepublicschools.org