Seaford budget: Principals present their wish lists

Seaford’s principals are very grateful for the items that were included in this year’s budget, and they are hoping to continue growing programs and adding staff in the future.

The 2015-16 budget includes numerous restorations — items that had been cut during tough financial times in the early part of the decade. Each elementary school now has a full-time librarian and social worker. Previously, each position was shared between the Harbor and Manor schools. Two classroom teachers were also added to help keep class sizes down.

Harbor Principal Donna DeLucia-Troisi said a new science curriculum has been a positive addition with lots of experiments for students to conduct. “The children are so excited about science now,” she said. “They’re so into it.”

The middle school has its first iPad cart, a full athletics program, new social studies textbooks, and an eighth-grade Robotics class, among other items.

In the high school, Principal Scott Bersin talked about the many new courses added this year including journalism, Advanced Placement Psychology, American Sign Language and a second-level robotics class. He also said an added special education teacher has benefitted students.

All four principals said the addition of a district-wide behavioral consultant has been a great resource for teachers, and has helped stem some past issues.

Everything that was added for this year will remain in tact as Seaford administrators and board members prepare the 2016-17 budget. However, with a low allowable tax levy increase this year, it is not expected for there to be further enhancements. “We understand the reality of the climate,” Bersin said. “We need to be ready when the climate is right.”

The building administrators presented their wish lists for the future. Bersin said he is hoping to continue increasing course offerings for students, which would come with an increase in teachers. Additionally, he wants to add more laptops and iPads to take advantage of the expanded wireless capability in the high school.

The middle school is seeking an extra guidance counselor. Middle School Principal Dan Smith said that the lone counselor has 550 students, which is the highest he has ever seen at a school. He would also like to offer a full year of foreign language instruction to seventh-grade students, and return to having two full-time technology teachers.

Smith said he is hoping to have the library renovated next year. He said it is widely used, with many students staying after school to read, study or use the computers, but the layout is very traditional. Smith is looking to give it the feel of a research center, much like the high school library.

He is also hoping to make some aesthetic improvements to the 1964 building, particularly in the hallways, which Smith said look very “institutional.”

At the elementary schools, the principals are looking to have an assistant principal assigned to each school, instead of splitting one. Manor Principal Debra Emmerich said this would help with teacher observations, supervising aides and other tasks.

She also said that with 30 percent of students reading below grade level, there is a need for additional reading teachers and a literacy coach.

Across the district, the principals said they often have a hard time finding substitute teachers, and would like permanent substitutes who would be assigned to each building. Superintendent Brian Conboy said the district had these in the past, and a position costs $18,000 a year plus benefits. That could be offset, he said, by the district paying less for daily substitutes.

Conboy said that the district is still waiting to see how much state aid Seaford will get for next year before deciding what new items can be included in the budget. He said he is hopeful that the Gap Elimination Adjustment will be taken away and that aid — about $513,000, will be restored to the district. The district will not count on it, he said, until it is a guarantee. He is expecting to know by the end of March, when the state will likely pass its budget.

The next budget meeting will be held on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Seaford Manor School.