Resident Offers Ways For District to Save Money

The budget has yet to be released, but Syosset resident Frederic Gang turned the public comment segment at Monday's Syosset Board of Education meeting into a discussion on ways to save money.

Gang's wide-ranging points took over the meeting at  It may be a preview of what could play out as a stormy budget season culminating with a contentious vote in May. Here is a recap:

When Are Payments Made and Payments Received?

During last month's meeting, Gang asked the board this question: When does the district receive most of its revenue, and when are payments made to the district?

Gang received the answer Monday night, as promised by Syosset Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carole Hankin and Board President Dr. Marc Herman. 

"This year, our first payment was received in October," Herman said. "Given the difficult fiscal environment, we do not receive taxes until November, which is their legal deadline. We anticipate that going forward we will continue to receive our first payment in November."

Herman continued: "The districts debt-service payment are received on June 15, July 15, Dec. 15, and Jan. 15. Proceeds from TAN's (Tax Anticipation Notice's) are typically received the 15th of July. However, this year we closed in August. TAN's are paid at the end of June."

The Continuing Education Catalog

Gang said one way the district can save money is by modifying the continuing education catalog. The catalog was abandoned last year because of cost factors, but was returned this year. 

"The cost factors are the production of the item, and the cost to mail them," said Gang, who added that maybe including spring on the catalog as well could help cut costs. 

Hankin responded positively to his inquiry on the catalog. 

"You are right about the brochure -- we also stopped the ciriculum in the high school for the same reason," Hankin said. "But everybody didn't like that -- especially the senior citizens who told us they're not really going on the computer that much and it's not easy for them. So, we did go back and print."

"But what you said, we can definitely try to do -- make it smaller and save money," Hankin said. 

Teachers Agreeing to Freeze Salaries

Herman noted that Syosset teachers in their contracts for next year. 

"Dr. Hankin and her cabinet were the first to indicate that they would forego the raise of 2.75 percent due next year," Herman said. "So, we thank all the employees that work together for the benefit of our children."

Other Notes

Snow Days -- Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day Weekend were announced as the makeup dates if another snowstorm forced cancellation of school. 

The total cash on hand announced by the treasury was $59.7 million.

The board approved the revised school calendar for 2011-12. The only change is that administrators start date moves from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, and it has no effect on the students. 

The next monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m. at South Woods. The revised date for the Budget Meeting is Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. also at South Woods.