Artificial turf, teacher layoffs on the Central High School District agenda

Jonathan Butler, a Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District trustee, made a motion at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting that the district place a $3.5 million to $4.5 million bond referendum on the ballot in May to fund construction of three synthetic-turf football fields at Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools. Dr. Matthew Kuschner, the board vice president, seconded the motion.

The district’s legal counsel then intervened. The board could not legally vote on the matter because the public had not been properly notified, according to counsel.

The board decided to take a straw poll, which would not count as a vote but would give the public an idea of the board’s position on artificial-turf fields. Butler and Kuschner “voted” to put the bond up for a referendum. The other six board members opposed the measure.

It was a poignant moment in an emotional, three-hour meeting to review the Central District's proposed 2011-12 budget.

Mandated benefit costs ‘skyrocket’

Earlier in the evening, Cynthia Strait Regal, the Central High School District deputy superintendent for business, explained that the district’s contribution to the Employee Retirement System, known as ERS, is slated to rise by more than $500,000, or 38 percent, in 2011-12. Its contribution to the Teachers Retirement System, or TRS, will increase by $1.8 million, or 33 percent. And health insurance premiums are expected to jump by 14 percent, bringing the district’s total state-mandated benefits increase to $4.1 million.

All of this comes on top of a $100,000 county sewer tax that the district will have to pick up for the first time next year, as well as a $260,000 MTA payroll tax that it has had to bear in recent years.

At the same time, Regal said, the district is facing a $2.5 million cut in state aid for education.