Voters approve Island Park Public Schools' $40.9M budget for 2021-22

Voters approved Island Park Public Schools' $40.9 million 2021-22 budget on Tuesday, 199 "yes" votes to 110 "nos." 

The community also gave school officials the green-light on Proposition Two, which enables the district to receive an additional 10 percent of aid from New York state for certain energy conservation improvements at various district facilities, at no addtional cost to the taxpayers. The estimated $3 million cost will be paid for with energy costs savings. The measure was approved by voters, 232 votes to 79.

Voters also offered their support to Board of Education Trustee Kathleen McDonough, who ran uncontested and received 273 votes.  She has served on the board for the past five years.

The spending plan is a  slight uptick from the final 2020-21 budget. Part of that 0.7 percent budget-to-budget increase is going to replace outdated student computing devices and to provide personal protective equipment and sanitary supplies for in-person classes.

The district is allocating funding to expand living environment classes to all eighth-graders and to increase opportunities for students to take the Algebra 1 Regents for the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, the district is focusing funds to curriculum projects for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

In a newsletter to residents, Superintendent of Schools Vincent Randazzo said the proposed budget would continue the “four R” approach to restart, reassure, reengage, and reinvigorate the school community.

Tom Carrozza contributed to this story.