Super Tuesday for schools

Voters in the Wantagh, Seaford and Levittown school districts will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide on a combined $347 million worth of spending for the 2016-17 school year.

Wantagh’s $76.2 million budget is expected to decrease taxes by $17 per year for the average homeowner. It also would increase programs and services at all five schools. The district would hire an elementary STEAM teacher to split between the three elementary schools and support the science, technology, engineering, arts and math initiative.

Sixth-graders would get their own Chromebooks to be used throughout their three years of middle school. Advanced Placement Capstone, robotics and engineering courses would be added at the high school.

“The Wantagh Board of Education appreciates the community’s valuable input during the budget planning process,” board President Ann-Marie Sturniolo said, citing the participation in four community budget forums. “The board was pleased to be able to offer a school budget that, for the second consecutive year, realizes a decrease in the previous year’s tax levy while preserving and enhancing programs students need to be college- and career-ready.”

Wantagh Elementary School PTA Co-President Danielle Fehling-Wasnieski said she likes the expansion of the STEAM program at the elementary schools, and is glad there is a dedicated space for it in each building. “That seems to be the way of the future,” she said.

Fehling-Wasnieski has a ninth-grader in the high school and a third-grader at Wantagh Elementary. “I think it’s great,” she said of the proposed budget. “We’re not losing anything. Class sizes are staying the same. There’s a [tax] decrease. I don’t see how you could not like the budget.”

Holding steady in Seaford

After several years of cuts, the Seaford School District added back several staff positions and programs this year. The proposed $65.3 million budget makes those restorations, and adds a few more enhancements.