The Agenda for the Meeting can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
· Mr. McDaid, provided a brief presentation of the budget for the 2018-2019 years. Per Mr. Mcdaid, we came in under the tax levy. The 2018-2019 Budget totaled $32,492,312. There are three components of the budget; Program (Employee Salaries and Health Benefits, Special Ed, Summer School and Instructional Media, ect.. this is 83% of our budget) $23,816,655.00; Administrative Budget (Central and Business Administration, Liability Insurance, BOCES, Legal and Accounting Services) $4,194,674; Capital Budget (custodial services, district maintenance and grounds, infrastructure and grounds) $4,480,983
· The Board of Education unanimously approved the adoption of the proposed budget for the 2018-2019 school year in the amount of $32,492,312 for the North Merrick UFSD.
· Good news. Our schools will be getting tablets!! The Board of Education approves the increase to the BOCES Letter of Intent for the 2017-2018 school year in the amount of $3,912 and the 48 month agreement for these services to be provided by Nassau BOCES. Nassau BOCES will provide the North Merrick UFSD with sixty Chromebooks, two cart docking insert kits, two mobile computing carts and associated licenses for 48 months.
· There was a bit of a debate surrounding Policy #1120 Public Participation at Board Meetings, which has been revised to mirror that of NSBA’s board policies following their audit. NSBA stands for the National School Board’s Association, it is a non profit educational organization which represents more than 90,000 local school board members and they provide guidance for the Boards all over the United States. NSBA audited our board polices and determined that they were out of date. Particularly, Policy #1120, which governed who can speak at Board meetings. The new policy notes that only residents of North Merrick and local business may speak at the BOE meetings. Non -residents who wish to speak, need to get approval from the Board. Following this announcement, Trustees Miller, Corona and Hyland (who had been endorsed by the North Merrick Faculty Association) became concerned and inquired whether the president of the North Merrick Faculty Association—a non-resident, would have the opportunity to speak freely at BOE meetings in the future. Thereafter, a Union Representative, also a non-resident, raised similar concerns.
· Security Update: License scanners are in and are being used in the schools. Vestibule construction will commence shortly.
· There will be a Budget Hearing will be held on May 8, 2018 at 8 pm. BOE meeting to follow.