Thursday, June 12, 2025
The Elmont, Franklin Square and Sewanhaka school districts passed their 2025-26 budgets in Tuesday’s annual budget vote and school board election. All three budgets and board reorganizations will go into effect July 1.
The $115.2 million Elmont school district budget passed with 1,482 votes in favor and 684 against.
The Elmont budget will establish new probationary teaching positions to help retain staff that are currently part of instructional programs, and open a new district-wide administrative leadership position for the English Language Learners program.
New software will be implemented for districtwide employee evaluations, as well as to manage employee absences.
Plans for a new science curriculum, a new theater program, telephone translation services, reading intervention resources, and GPS tracking software of the district’s bus fleet are included in the budget as well.
“We thank everyone in the Elmont community who participated in today’s budget vote,” said Marlon Small, superintendent of the Elmont school district. “Their support ensures we can move forward with critical initiatives that enhance learning opportunities and maintain safe, welcoming schools for all our Elmont scholars.”
Shirley Wheeler-Massey, Zahid Khan and Stephanie Douglas were elected to the Elmont Board of Education, receiving 1,275, 641 and 870 votes, respectively.
"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every supporter, voter, volunteer, parent, teacher and community stakeholder who made this victory possible," Khan said. "Together, we have sent a clear message: Elmont School District is ready for a board that listens, leads with integrity and puts students first. I am honored to serve and eager to get to work on behalf of our entire community."
The $51.7 million Franklin Square school district budget passed with 596 votes in favor and 274 against.
The budget ensures that no programs will be cut, and that low class sizes will be maintained.
Proposition 3 passed with 604 votes in favor and 259 against, facilitating a $1.6 million reconstruction of the Washington Street School parking lot with funds from the capital reserve.
Additionally, all pre-K programs will be held exclusively at the three Franklin Square elementary schools beginning next school year. This includes a new pre-K class at Polk Street School, which will accommodate students who would have otherwise enrolled in the Our Precious Angels pre-K program.
“We are incredibly grateful to our community for their support in approving this year’s budget as well as our proposition to invest in our school facilities,” said Jared Bloom, superintendent of the Franklin Square school district. “This approval ensures we can continue to provide exceptional educational opportunities and critical resources for all our students and support our dedicated staff. We look forward to another successful year of providing our students a solid foundation for success.”
Stephen Toto and Maura Lewinger-Torres were re-elected to the Franklin Square Board of Education with 648 and 660 votes, respectively. Both candidates ran unopposed.
“To be able to continue with the five of us working cohesively will be wonderful,” Lewinger-Torres said. “We’re always this cohesive team that is looking at what we could do for the betterment of the children. I just love the direction that we’re bringing our students toward.”
The $264 million Sewanhaka School District budget passed with 3,028 votes in favor and 1,488 against.
Proposition 3, which establishes a capital reserve for the district, passed with 3,150 votes in favor and 1,315 against.
The budget will provide funding for new districtwide midterms and diagnostic exams, as well as new language, math, science, art and professional development classes.
Two new Career and Technical Education programs, Medical Assistance and Cosmetology, will begin in the fall semester. A new district building is currently being constructed on the corner of Landau Avenue to house classrooms for the new programs.
“We are grateful to our community for supporting the 2025-26 school budget, as well as our capital reserve proposition,” said Regina Agrusa, superintendent of the Sewanhaka school district. These approvals allow us to continue providing high-quality educational programs and essential services that support student success across our district in a safe and secure environment.”
The $2.5 million Elmont library budget and the $2.9 million Franklin Square library budget both passed, with 1,483 and 547 votes, respectively.
“The Franklin Square Public Library extends its heartfelt gratitude to our incredible community for approving our budget,” wrote Aviva Kane, director of the Franklin Square Public Library, in an email. “This modest increase, kept within the NYS tax cap, directly invests in the future of our library. This vote of confidence reinforces our mission to serve as a vibrant hub where connections are made and knowledge is shared. Thank you for your unwavering support!”
Elizabeth Forbes was elected to the Elmont Library Board of Trustees with 885 votes, winning over incumbent Livingstone Young, who received 743 votes.
Suzanne Schatz was re-elected to the library board with 1,371 votes. She ran unopposed.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing to work with such a strong, organized, collaborative and committed board,” Schatz said. “Our goal is to continuously elevate the opportunities and quality of programs happening across the library.”
Lori Turczyn was elected to the Franklin Square Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term after running unopposed for Maxine Yarczower’s seat. Yarczower did not run for re-election.
