Hewlett-Woodmere puts forward a $113.6M budget

Hewlett-Woodmere School District is proposing a $113.6 million budget for the 2015-2016 school year, which includes its lowest budget increase ($1.67 million, 1.49 percent) in 12 years and lowest projected tax levy increase (1.4 percent) in district history, according to officials.
Sitting Board of Education members, Melissa Gates, Dr. Jonathan Altus and Stephen Witt, are running for re-election unchallenged. All terms are three years.
The budget increases staff for special education, support for students learning to speak English, and other new initiatives. Savings will be realized through staffing changes, an increase in state aid, stabilization of benefit costs and a smaller than anticipated planned use of reserves, Peter Weber, the district’s assistant superintendent for business said.
“While there was growth in the tax base which permitted the district to set a higher levy, this was more than offset when the state kept its promises made last year and permitted the district to receive the building aid it was due from completed construction,” he said.

Candidates unopposed
Gates said that she has been an effective trustee and would like to continue serving the students and community. “I truly enjoy all that I have been doing as a board member and feel that three years is just not enough,” she said. “I also believe that during this time of transitioning to a new superintendent it is important to have a stable board. I was one of seven making the decision of who to hire and I would like to see it through.”
She wants to continue to be an advocate for the students and public education. “I am hoping that my voice will join the many voices that want to see change in the current education reforms and help to convince the powers that be that the current state of high stakes testing and vilifying teachers is not beneficial to our students,” she said.
Altus said that over the past three years, he’s proud of the new initiatives the district has added. “Adding Mandarin Chinese as another language to learn, I hope we continue advancing,” he said. “In our global economy, learning different languages prepares them for the future.”
He’d like to expand on the district’s science and technology programs. “With our AP Capstone program, we were one of a few select schools that added it,” he said. “I know I’m very excited about having it. I think that it bridges the gap between different disciplines.” AP Capstone is a national college preparatory diploma program that allows high schools students to enhance their core academic skills at an advanced learning level.
Witt has served from 1984-93 and 2003-present. He said he applied his financial background to help with the budget planning. “Our budget has been continuously low for the past 12 years,” he said. “The main reason is because of working with people like Peter Weber and we’ve also been prepping for a rainy day. We work as a board of seven, and my strength is finance. For me, it’s all about the students.”
Voting is on May 19 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Woodmere Education Center at 1 Johnson Place in Woodmere.