by Carolyn James

Citing what they described as an abuse of the use of cellular phones by some school officials, the Amityville School Board voted to take away cell phones from all "non essential" employees in the district. The board determined that the only individuals who require cell phones are the athletic coaches, the Superintendent of Schools and the district’s facilities administrator.

"All other employees are to turn over their cell phones to central office where they will be secured," said School Board President Stephanie Andrews in introducing the resolution at the board’s August meeting.

Andrews said the Superintendent will also have the opportunity of getting back to the board in the event the resolution, which was passed, poses any problem.

The change was made as a result of the district’s growing cellular phone bill. Records show that over the last six months the bills have grown by 78 percent from $1,065 in February to $1,235 in March, $1,336 in April, $1,293 in May, $1,686 in June and $1,904 in July, 2001.

More significant, however, said Andrews is that one individual, who was not identified, has shown a marked increase in cell phone usage with July’s bill hitting more than $700.

"And many of these calls were made on weekends, after school hours and even in the middle of the night," said Andrews. "I don’t know of any school business that takes place during those hours."

The district currently has 11 cell phones in use by the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Facilities Administrator, Principals, Computer technician, buildings and grounds foreman, athletic director and athletic coaches.

"We ought to get input from the administrators as to how this is going to effect things," said Trustee Sam Williams who opposed the motion.

"What did we do five years ago when we didn’t have cell phones," said Trustee Marietta Mee. "We didn’t have any major problems without them."

"You can say the same thing about computers," said Williams.

"Don’t let me go there," Mee responded.

In other business, the board set it’s 2001-02 tax rate. That rate is $110.53 for Babylon and $66.13 for Oyster Bay as outlined to the public prior to the budget vote in May. And, while that vote was defeated and the board voted instead to go to a contingency spending plan, the proposed tax rate was maintained.

The board had delayed adopting its tax levy to consider setting aside some of its surplus from this year’s budget to offset some of the additional costs associated with the Park Avenue renovation project. That raised some legal questions, and the board asked to be advised on the issue before making a final decision.

In a letter to the board explaining its options, Business Director Wendy Duffy said that if the board wanted to set aside funds from its fund balance for expenses, it would be necessary to increase the 2001-02 budget by board approval. The board could do this for contingency expenses.

Mary Ellen Clark of the State Education Department said that since the costs are directly related to the construction project, however, they do not qualify as contingency expenses or as health and safety costs. The board would, therefore, not have the authority to increase the general fund budget for these expenses.

In order for the district to exceed the voter-approved $13.8 million for the construction project, the district would have to seek approval from the State Education Department and from voters through another bond issue.

If the board had used the $500,000 from the fund balance that it had initially applied to this year’s budget, it would have brought up the rate to $112.20 for Babylon and $67.13 for Oyster Bay. It would also have resulted in a fund balance of $3.7 percent or $1.8 million, which is above the 2 percent cap.