BOE: 'Nothing Is Set In Stone'

The Sachem Board of Education unanimously agreed that it would present the "tax cap" budget to the public when its spending plan goes up for re-vote on June 18.

With the tax cap plan, the district will need to find an additional $6 million in cuts, however certain members of the board let it be known that they were not beholden to the exact items listed for elimination in the flyer residents received. Some of those items included JV sports, extracurricular clubs, marching band, the cheerleading program and the Arrowettes.

Supporters of those organizations turned out in droves and spoke before the board and a standing-room-only audience at the Samoset Middle School auditorium. Public comments lasted for about 2.5 hours. 

"Nothing is set in stone," board member Michael Timo said, holding up the flyer, which features a "B" column (for the tax cap budget) and a "C" column (in the event of a 0% budget).

In fact, a 5-4 majority of the board voted to consider moving the decision to close two middle schools over to the B column so it might save some of the aforementioned programs. Associate Superintendent Bruce Singer was charged with providing definitive numbers on the school closings as well as some recommendations as to which two schools to close when the board reconvenes in an informal session on Sunday morning.

The board must adopt the new budget proposal by next Tuesday, so that it can inform the public of what's in and what's out by Wednesday. 

Essentially two things were accomplished last night: first, the board all agreed that they would not gamble with the community and put out the same 7.49% tax levy plan that failed by 727 votes on Tuesday. If the June 18 budget should fail, the district will be forced by law to operate at a 0% tax levy, which would require $11 million in cuts as opposed to $6 million.

Secondly, the board approved by a 7-2 vote to repeal "Policy 7800," which would require a committee to perform an impact study on school closures before any final decisions are made. By repealing the policy, which was put in place in 1998, the board now has clearance to move quickly on closing the schools. 

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 in the Samoset auditorium. Sunday's meeting will take place in the board room annex. On May 28 the board must adopt the new budget.