Lynbrook School District's $84.48 million 2017-18 budget approved by voters

Residents within the Lynbrook School District voted Tuesday night to approve the proposed $84.48 million budget for the 2017-18 school year.

The budget was confirmed after 1,035 residents voted to approve it and 403 selected against it.

"On behalf of the entire Board of Education and administration, I thank the Lynbrook community for its overwhelming support of our school budget," said Melissa Burak, the superintendent of Lynbrook schools. "It is through our strong school-community partnership that we are able to continuously provide our students with a high-quality educational program. The community’s support of our additional propositions also showcases their willingness to continue investing in our long-range technology plan, as well as the upkeep of our facilities.

The district continues to thrive, with U.S. News & World Report ranking it No. 88 in the top 100 school districts in New York state in April. The budget has many features to improve student learning, including the growth of the district’s One-to-World initiative, for which ninth- and 10th-graders will be given tablets in September that they will keep for the entire school year. The devices will help students individualize their learning experience, collaborate with peers and communicate with their teachers.

Among the other curriculum enhancements within the budget are:

The addition of a foreign language after-school program for third-graders.

The addition of a business teacher at the high school.

Additional high school chorus sections to support growing interest.

The addition of college-level, computer-driven engineering courses at the high school.

A new bus to help homeless students get to school.

In addition to the budget passing, Proposition 2, which authorized the district to spend $675,000 from the technology replacement fund, was approved 1,107 to 340. Proposition 3 also passed, 1,095 to 349, which allowed the expenditure of $1,885,000 from the renovation and improvement facilities fund. Proposition 4, which extended the technology replacement fund for an additional five years, passed 1,031 to 400.

Voters also approved Proposition 5, which authorized the Board of Education to negotiate and grant easements to American Water, 1,148 to 221.

Board of Education Vice President Ellen Marcus and Trustee Alicemarie Bresnihan ran unopposed, but voters still showed them their support. Marcus received 992 votes, while Bresnihan garnered 966. Each will serve another three-year term. Brensihan has been on the board for the past 42 years, while Marcus has served for nine.