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$4M more in state aid helps Copiague School District boost programs; keeps tax increase at under 2 percent Copiague School Superintendent William Bolton talks about this year's proposed school budget almost gleefully, pointing to a $4 million increase in state aid that will allow the district, for the first time in years, to add programs and address the educational needs of students at all levels. He also points out that this year's graduating class includes students accepted into Harvard, Yale and Columbia. "The state has recognized the strong commitment of this community to education," said Bolton in discussing the state aid picture for the coming year. "They have seen a tax effort from the local taxpayer, which has approved tax increases every year, and supported programs." Copiague is a district identified by the state as a School In Need. The additional state aid comes with requirements that the district undertake certain educational initiatives to meet the needs of students. "In this budget, we are actually doing what the state has directed in its Contract for Excellence," said Bolton. "We are lowering class sizes, increasing offerings to support children with special needs, expanding our summer school and adding electives and experimental programs all designed to improve academic success." Bolton said the district was moving in that direction but that the influx of additional aid this year by the Governor and Legislature which campaigned on a promise to address the inequities of the school aid formula, has helped the district move more quickly."We have used this extra aid to offset the tax rate for all of these new programs," said the superintendent. This year's budget is for $91,238,003, a budget-tobudget increase of 7.55 percent from the current budget of $84,836,778. The increase in the projected tax rate, however, is much less at 1.7 percent, one of the lowest the district has had in a decade. That would bring the current tax rate from $152.25 to $154.92. A homeowner living in a home assessed at $3,700 would pay an annual school tax bill of $5,732.04, an increase from this year's figure of $5,633.35. Those figures are excluding New York State tax relief rebates such as STAR and Enhanced STAR. "When you take into account the state's tax rebates, there are some families who will actually pay less next year than this year under this budget," said Bolton. "This is going to be a superb year," said SchoolBoard Trustee Everett Newman who is running for reelection unopposed this year. "We finally have received a good state aid package and we will see some real movement." The budget will add 14 more teaching positions in grades K-12, special education teachers, reading teachers and two more social workers so that each school has one on staff. A tutorial intervention program during the school day is also being provided, as is an additional guidance counselor and school security. "Students can't learn and teachers can't teach unless they feel safe," said Bolton. Money will be added also for electives at the middle and high School, including more honors and AP courses, an intiative the district has discussed for years but has not been able to provide due to funding restraints. "Not only will these programs allow for enrichment for our higher performing students but they will lower class sizes in the other classes, giving more time for individual attention," said the superintendent.
Finally, Bolton said that plans for the future include working toward strong science electives. "We have students going to Yale, Harvard and Columbia," he said. "Next is anINTEL Science winner."
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