Like all school districts on Long Island, Copiague School is trimming its budget, but -- as of press time – the district still had more than a $400,000 budget gap that it was hoping to fill... perhaps with State aid.

Copiague is projecting a loss of more than $3 million dollars in State aid this year under the Governor’s proposal.

“We are still wrestling with a significant hole, waiting for the State to do something,” said Superintendent of Copiague Schools Charles Leunig. By law, the board must adopt a budget by April 24. If the State has not decided on a budget (and the aid they will be passing along to schools) by then, Copiague plans to dig into its reserve funds to make ends meet.

“We’re not expecting anything; at this point, we cannot count on any (additional) aid from the State,” said Leunig.

If additional school aid does come in from the State, the district’s plan is to replenish the reserves and possibly apply the funds to lowering any tax increase, Le unig said.

The proposed budget for 2010-11 is almost the same as last year’s $100, 644, 451 – although exact numbers will not be available until after the budget is approved, according to the Superintendent. He believes the tax rate, however, will increase about 2.8 percent, which translates into an additional $160 a year is school taxes on a home assessed at $3,600.

“We are trying to deliver a budget with the lowest possible tax rate given the current conditions,” said Leunig. “As a district and administration, we are reducing overhead, encouraging retirements and reducing positions. Any tax rate increase we have, I put squarely on the shoulders of the State.”

Raising taxes is a tricky issue for this community. Copiague, an ethnically diverse community of mostly white, African American and a rising Hispanic population, has many low–income families. This past school year, 60 percent of the student population was eligible for free and reduced lunches.

At a recent board meeting, a man stood up to speak his mind, upset about the probable tax hike.

“I came to the board meeting because I am sick and tired of increases in our taxes,” said Jerry Edelman, a concerned resident. “My taxes went up $1,000 since last year. I am dipping into my savings. If 60 percent of our students qualify for low-cost or free meals, that is poverty level. Who is paying for the taxes in this community? It’s the other 40 percent.”

Edleman and his wife, who are both retired and living on a fixed income, decried the huge salaries teachers get, and their raises. “Taxpayers pay every time a teacher takes a course (to receive a pay bump); we have to start capping salaries,” Edelman said. “I am sorry if I sound angry but I am. When it comes to economics, if you can’t afford something, then stop it.”

The Copiague School District employees about 700 people, and will pay almost $50 million in salary costs for the 2010-11 school year.

“We are heavily people oriented,” agreed Leunig. “After all, we are not manufacturing widgets; we are teaching, interacting with and supervising children.”

Theschool district plans to cut more than 20 positions (estimated at 25.5) by letting people go, encouraging retirements and shifting personnel.

“We’re not putting 25.5 people on the street,” Leunig said. “Nineteen people are retiring. Some of those positions will not be replaced. Then there are the typical turnovers in staff who are probationary and then of course there are positions we are simply eliminating. There are about six to eight teachers who will not be coming back who would have been here in September,” said Leunig.

The biggest cuts – 10.5 positions – would hit the elementary reading program. Leunig said that reductions are due to a successful shift in the elementary school reading model. Ten years ago, the district introduced the Literacy Collaborative Model. In that model, classroom teachers provide reading instruction as opposed to sending out students to remedial classes. The district also utilizes a research-based phonics program called Fundations, as well as DIBELS, an assessment that pinpoint areas of weakness.

“We have seen the percentage of children reading on grade level rise from fifty percent to eighty percent,” according to Copiague’s website. “Additionally, our elementary ELA results have consistently increased to the point where 85 percent of our students are scoring at a level three or above … At the same time, we raised our expectations for our kindergarten students and have the goal that they will leave kindergarten reading at a level D – which means they are actually reading.”

Other possible cuts may include: German (.4), Social Studies (.4), Art (.4), Business (.6), ESL Support (.6), Science (1), Physical Education (1), School Media Specialist (1), Special Education (1), English (1.6), Staff Development (2), Elementary Classroom (2), Guidance Counselors (2) and the Gifted Program (1).

There are also planned administration cuts, totaling -- 1.2 positions, including a dean (.5), elementary assistant principal (.5) and coordinator of fine arts (.2).

In regards to cuts, “We tried to be surgical and strategic about how we make reductions,” said Leunig. “We’re not using a machete; we are using a scalpel and microscopes. We are trying hard to not have these reductions impact kids … because that’s what we do; that’s what we’re all about.”

The board also has plans to cut: $25,000 from the technology budget, $25,000 in Athletics and $25,000 in Fine Arts, as well money saved in co-curricular reductions ($25,000) and $89,000 by funding its elementary summer school program through a federal grant.

Foundation Aid has been frozen at the 2007-08 level. According to the school district, just from that alone, that State owes them $14.5 million, which was intended to allow the district to compete with other wealthier school districts to add programs.