On Tuesday, May 20, qualified Jericho School District residents will be eligible to vote on the proposed 2008-2009 school budget.

Voting will take place in the Jericho Middle/High School gymnasium between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. In addition, two Board of Education seats and the proposed Jericho Public Library Budget will be on the ballot.

The Jericho Board of Education unanimously adopted the proposed 2008-2009 school district budget at an open meeting on March 27, 2008. The $101,409,017 budget represents a 5.9 percent increase over last year's budgeted expenditures. The budget increase will result in a 5.6 percent increase in the tax levy.

The district hosted a series of open budget workshops over a three-month period. The board of education and district administration reviewed the budget line by line at each of these meetings and encouraged input from school community members. "We continue to seek business efficiencies in order to contain budget increases without impacting the core of the outstanding educational program that is so highly valued in our community," explained School Board President Barbara Krieger. "Our independent internal, external and claims auditors have reassured us that our business operations are exemplary."

Jericho is a participant in a purchasing co-operative with more than 100 New York school districts for classroom, athletic, and custodial materials and supplies. The district's participation in the Educational Data Co-operative has saved more than $300,000 during this fiscal year. In addition they have co-operative bids with 28 other school districts for plumbing, electrical, maintenance, lumber, and landscaping. The district also participates in the Town of Oyster Bay Geese Project, which saves approximately $10,000 annually. It is estimated that a total annual savings of over $700,000 is achieved by participating in these co-operative agreements for materials and supplies, as well as property and liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance.

For the past several years, the Jericho School District has used technology to help manage the budget. The Finance Plus System allows authorized program users to order materials and supplies on-line. Before the order is approved and processed, the program verifies that there is a budget allocation. The result is instantaneous budget management.

The Jericho School District continually evaluates current curricular offerings and instructional strategies in light of research, changes in technology, state requirements, national standards, local expectations, and the interests and needs of individual students at all levels of learning across the wide spectrum of talents and abilities. Educational program needs and priorities are then determined accordingly.

The three elementary schools will implement the Wilson Fundations Reading Program in grades K-1 for the coming year. This program will supplement the Houghton Mifflin Reading Program. The Fundations phonological awareness, phonics and spelling program will be integrated into the core reading program for all students in grades K-2.

Students who fall below grade level in reading by the end of second grade consistently demonstrate weakness in the graphophonic arena of reading, an essential skill in reading development. The adoption of this program will provide a consistent, coordinated graphophonic program across all elementary schools, utilizing a common language among the schools and the various instructors within the schools.

The goal of adopting this researched-based, nationally recognized program is to:

-Enhance student graphophonic skills levels leading to increased fluency levels

-Improve coordination between classroom instruction and support reading systems

-Advance student performance levels on State Assessments

-Enhance self-esteem among new readers and instill a love for reading

-Decrease reading intervention centered on graphophonic skills

Project History is a new 7th grade elective for the 2008-2009 school year. This class will explore the world of historical research, writing, project preparation and presentation. Research themes include social, economic, political, and popular culture topics. This is a full year course designed around National History Day and the New York State Archives competitions. This course will serve as an introduction to the High School elective Social Science Research I.

Little Chefs, an 8th grade elective, has been so popular that additional sections will be added for the coming year This course teaches students how to turn ordinary foods into extraordinary meals.

The proposed budget will support increased opportunities for the high school student population.

This includes:

-An increase in the number of sections of Senior Experience

-Increased numbers of students in courses such as AP Photo, AP Literature, and AP Physics

-Additional sections of College Prep Writing

-Increased sections of Pre-Calculus Research, Introduction to Computer Science, Art Seminar, and Forensic Science

-The increase of a guidance position from part time to full time to address the increasing complexity of the college application process

-A Boy's Badminton team, which will be added to high school fall sports program

-Medical Aspects, which is a new course that will be the third course in the high school sports medicine program

Implementation of a Collaborative Teaching Model will be piloted next year at the elementary and middle schools. A special education teacher and a regular education teacher will provide instruction to a classroom with no more than 1/3 of the students in need of special services. The co-teaching model raises the level of effectiveness with two professionals in the classroom. It may also be more efficient as it will reduce the number of aides assigned to the classroom or to an individual student. This model is an authorized SED option and continues the Jericho spirit of full inclusion for students with complicated and comprehensive needs.

Additional tuition for children with special needs placed either in other public schools, private placements, or a BOCES program is included in the proposed budget as well as additional funds for increased professional services (OT, PT, ABA, and Speech) for students in Jericho Schools as well as students who attend private schools within the school district.

Supporting special needs students continues to have a substantial impact on the budget. The district strives to provide essential academic support to all children, including those with a variety of disabilities. The New York State Education Department insists that these students meet the same rigorous requirements for a Regents diploma as all other students. "The fact that 99 percent of the 2007 graduating class received a Regents diploma is a clear indication that our tax dollars used to support every student are being well spent," said Board Vice President Joseph Lorintz.

In recent years, the New York State Legislature has mandated that school districts offer a wide range of services. There are approximately 78 unfunded mandates in the areas of administration, business, facilities, health, instruction, IT, personnel, private schools and transportation that NY State has compelled school districts to provide. Although NY State views these services as important, they do not provide Jericho with the appropriate financial resources to support them. While the intent of these mandates may be positive, they translate into added time, personnel and costs.

Federal and state regulations regarding services for ELL (English Language Learners) students are incorporated into the proposed budget. The U.S. Office of Education and the New York State Education Department mandate considerable services for all beginning ELL students. All Jericho English Language Learners in grades K-12 receive comprehensive ELL support.

The proposed regular operating budget includes funds for the implementation of the second year of a three-year capital improvement program. This includes re-roofing the Cantiague School and paving projects at all school locations. The contract negotiated in 2007 results in a 7 percent increase in the cost of transportation of the students. This increase is due in part to escalating gasoline costs as well as the transportation of additional students out of the district.

-Replacement of 180 classroom and lab computers in grades K-12. This is the third year of a 5-year rotation plan.

-A new student management system will provide for enhanced state reporting and the integration of our student management system with other district databases. The new student management system will have an enhanced grade book feature, better tracking of student testing, medical and health data, and it will increase scheduling flexibility. The new management system will also contain a parent portal that will give parents access to student grades, attendance and other data. This new system will replace an outdated program that is more than 12 years old.

-During the 2008-09 school year, the district will implement a homework and course outline module K-12 that will allow all parents and students to access homework assignments for every class on line.

There are two open seats on the board of education this year. Barbara Krieger, the current board president, and Claire Hochheiser, a current trustee, will be running unopposed for the seats. Complete copies of the proposed 2007-2008 Jericho School District Budget are available on the district website and in the Central Administration Office at 99 Cedar Swamp Road. Reference copies are available for inspection at all district schools and the Jericho Public Library. Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 203-3600, extension 3201, with any questions. For information or questions regarding registration, voting and absentee ballots, please call 203-3600, extension 3214.

Only persons who are qualified voters as of May 20, 2008 shall be permitted to vote in the election held on May 20, 2008 on matters affecting the Jericho School District and the Jericho Public Library.

A qualified voter is defined as:

-A citizen of the United States

- At least 18 years of age

- A resident in the Jericho Union Free School District for thirty days or more preceding the budget vote at which he/she offers to vote.

Persons disqualified from voting under the provisions of Section 5-106 of the Election Law are not eligible to vote in school district elections.

New voters may register and vote on the day of the election. They will be asked to provide proof of residency and age.

ESTIMATED EXPENSES	2007-2008	%	2008-2009	%
Instruction	$59,189,100	61.86%	$62,632,309	61.76%
Central Services	3,341,549	3.49%	3,462,078	3.41%
Capital Building Improvements	1,075,000	1.12%	1,595,000	1.57%
Buildings and Grounds	6,534,829	6.83%	6,716,108	6.62%
Pupil Transportation	5,016,660	5.24%	5,546,677	5.47%
Community Services	77,000	0.08%	77,000	0.08%
Employee Benefits	17,913,286	18.72%	18,618,545	18.36%
Debt Service & Undistributed	2,536,313	2.65%	2,761,300	2.72%
TOTAL EXPENDITURES	$95,683,737	100%	$101,409,017	100%

Estimated Expenses	2007-2008	2008-2009
Library Materials	$379,500	$384,000
Programming	$60,000	$70,000
Property Improvements	$7,500	$8,000
Furniture & Equipment	$36,000	$56,000
Operating Expenses	$600,500	$604,950
Salaries & Benefits	$3,164,300	$3,281,500
Capital Improvements	$50,000	$50,000
Total Expenditures	$4,297,800	$4,454,450
Less Total Anticipated Income	$70,075	$99,950
Total To Be Raised By Taxes	$4,227,725	$4,354,500

Percentage Increase in the Library Tax Levy 2.99 %

Three candidates are running for two open Library Board seats

Edward A. Salina

Stanley Garfunkel

Gloria Jacobson

Copies of the complete Jericho Library Proposed 2008-2009 Budget are available at the Jericho Public Library for inspection.