Valley Stream District 13 proposes $49.7M budget

District 13’s proposed budget for next year, which would expand its Chromebook technology, calls for a 1.67 percent increase in the tax levy over the current year — an average increase of about $41 per household.

Students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades use a Chromebook to submit school work directly to their teachers. The proposed 2017-18 budget would expand this Chromebook initiative to provide every third grader in the district with one of these computers.

“Students are able to have learning experiences with additional content that was not accessible before the implementation of these mobile learning devices,” said Daniel Farsaci, director of technology for District 13.

Teachers also use programs such as LightSail and the G Suite for Education to help them with their lesson plans. LightSail provides students with e-books that include multiple-choice and written-response assessments. Teachers can then monitor each student’s comprehension and growth. G Suite for Education provides the teachers with Google apps, including a new classroom app that enables teachers to distribute and collect assignments online. The other Google apps enable students to collaborate on group projects more effectively.

“Teachers have shared that the use of Chromebooks in their classrooms can be very motivating for students,” Farsaci said.

The proposed $49.7 million budget would expand the Chromebook program for its second year. Gerard Antoine, the assistant superintendent for business and human resources, presented the budget on March 28, which would increase by about $1.4 million over this year’s budget.

The reason for the increase, in part, is due to expanding programs, the installation of rubber matting on the playgrounds and renovations to the schools. However, the majority of the increase, Antoine said, is the result of contractual agreements.

“We didn’t add a whole lot to this budget, but it’s really the contractual agreements that’s the cause of our increase,” said Antoine.

Salaries would make up about 58 percent of the budget, at $28.9 million. Benefits would make up an additional 20 percent of the budget, at $10.3 million.

The district’s next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 at 8 p.m.