[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6681145,"mediaKeyId","2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b","parentId",2621759,"title","Public raises questions about district finances, capital spending and personnel during public comment","audioSeconds",1975,"startMs",1003000,"endMs",2978000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b&start=1003&end=2978","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b/thumbnail_1003000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6681145/New-York/Public-raises-questions-about-district-finances-capital-spending-and-personnel-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681145-592f139199ae77d11b64c87fa163eaa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073340&Signature=SqqrbqTz~x~sEnwI2fonM4miXBwXx7P65RSY7vQGqL2EdSFYVVbSSR0C4jTvZCMxfNi6MlEQTUJ89y-zpcJqJUcIEqnVinyckegNo9yl4RisEGyUiX5CgIJ~2wVYJRdYOWJzQBnbelLx8PHAPAT0qoOBbxkibIOq28ED4QWqjhvfzNOqdsZvot~0~XGnZUTrH38CIzM5tWyJ9k3V~Yv6F4s8j0V8vtjqYsA8kf0LIrpxNExvieFu2lS3sih7Rpfnqd6e8LkgCTiGbAH2p7v-fwWyjS60~F1fp401w9NUzMEOTVakzmg5QLGYo336CifDUvO~~aDsJuYy98OeshJPrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Meadow UFSD","date","2025-02-12T10:02:56.94Z","article","During the public-comment portion of the meeting, residents pressed trustees and staff for more transparency on district finances and capital spending and raised questions about personnel and minute accuracy.

Public commenter Phil Serviter raised multiple financial concerns: he said the district used short-term borrowing and that $2.1 million had been taken from unrestricted reserves, that the district's budget was $3.3 million short in an earlier presentation, and he questioned why reserve balances and certain line items were not visible in budget documents. He also asked about the timing and use of a capital reserve balance that he said changed significantly between audit dates. The commenter named the deputy assistant superintendent for finance (Mr. Pizzo) and asked why the person was no longer employed; board members said personnel matters are not discussed in public meetings and advised Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests for paperwork.

A district finance staff member (responding during public comment) explained that building aid is returned to the district as reimbursement and that building aid payments are distributed over 15 years, not as a single lump-sum payment. The staff member also said many capital work items are completed by the district's facilities crew and may be funded through the operating budget rather than the bonded capital program.

Other public commenters raised school-safety and operations issues: a student, Erin Horowitz, warned about icy sidewalks and said the district had improved salting but that conditions still caused near-misses on walkways and raised concerns about bus rides on poor road conditions. Another commenter proposed more flexible options for student tutoring and extra-help periods, including peer tutoring and supervised before- or after-school homework support; district staff and trustees encouraged parents to contact teachers and building administrators to arrange help and noted some contractual limits on staff time.

The board declined to discuss individual personnel matters in public and reminded speakers that personnel issues are handled privately; trustees asked staff to bring more detailed capital accounting to the next budget meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - February 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple public speakers pressed the board on short-term borrowing, reserve balances, capital spending transparency and personnel departures. The superintendent and finance staff declined to discuss personnel in public and committed to providing more detailed capital accounting at upcoming budget meetings.","taxTitle","EAST MEADOW UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",49657,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6681148,"District outlines K–12 counseling program, expands elementary services and counselor initiatives",1231,2323000,3554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b&start=2323&end=3554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b/thumbnail_2323000.jpg","/articles/6681148/New-York/District-outlines-K12-counseling-program-expands-elementary-services-and-counselor-initiatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681148-df02c9045045486de71bf0da87bb3543/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073340&Signature=ccesyldy2AAK0tvMWTnqx-XJsluq31ZRsP3BxtQICtK7uFUraV3fsqIQsoKitidK5o0Ti59mCFVQpLa8zKKDuXrke2~WLnVZK3Pc3r5xyyAMXYpxEARThEgpMNQ5dgtms3onMFVj2NCqUjs2pxSV53ulVTicJe69bM3ymkKxHlpaD4IkTl6AAhPKgdR7ifm1RiMomagVw1kbKT4ADh83Pofpi5v99NvxcgwHBykVDQX2eCIROfSkFrs8zNSIu6vggwlbboC9T7TSCobGxvjNrcxTLXF~GqFzg-26bFTCo0JgTQzhaPpAYQGOVYM~5z8-Q2eYcF-uN1vRAEZlC4j4sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District Director of Guidance Dr. Geralyn Smith presented the district's K–12 school counseling program and identified the program's three components: social-emotional support, academic advising, and college and career readiness.

Dr. Smith told trustees that New York State regulation 100.2(j) (updated in February 2019) expanded counseling requirements so that all students K–12 must have access to a certified school counselor; the change prompted the district to implement elementary counseling services. Dr. Smith said the counseling program includes direct services (classroom lessons, individual and group counseling) and indirect services (consultation with teachers, families, and referrals to outside agencies).

Dr. Smith described the counseling staff composition: 11 high-school counselors (four at Clark High School and seven at East Meadow High School), nine middle-school counselors (three at Clark Middle School and six at Woodland), and one elementary counselor currently serving five elementary buildings. She described grade-level curricula (early grades focus on emotions and coping; upper elementary emphasizes conflict resolution and career awareness) and the use of Naviance as the district's college-and-career planning tool.

Dr. Smith and building counselors described two district initiatives: counselor college trips (where counselors visit college campuses to better inform students) and a districtwide college fair that combines both high schools and typically draws many colleges and several hundred students and family members. Trustees asked about counselor caseloads, hiring qualifications and confidentiality; Dr. Smith said the elementary role emphasizes classroom instruction and teaching experience, middle- and high-school roles emphasize rapport-building and scheduling/advising expertise, and counselors maintain confidentiality except when a student indicates imminent harm.

The board received the presentation as informational; trustees and staff discussed staffing needs at the elementary level and the value of counselor continuity across middle and high school grade spans.","The district's director of guidance presented the K–12 counseling program, describing three pillars (social-emotional, academic, and college/career), staffing levels across buildings, new advisory council work and initiatives such as counselor college trips and a districtwide college fair.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6681153,"District outlines first budget preview; staff explains tax-cap math and building-aid timing",230,4140000,4370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b&start=4140&end=4370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b/thumbnail_4140000.jpg","/articles/6681153/New-York/District-outlines-first-budget-preview-staff-explains-tax-cap-math-and-building-aid-timing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681153-ad26faadef3629acdee67a4c53924d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073340&Signature=Ej6IdYhTwXJv0FkgCOllm4mRhbVxpYMieBqnF~oKWENaCKptsrtyhW1K6D0BRGvFAn5~EiFWITPLfPNdY8CwgvasxwhWMq7NfGyV2vjM4oNgEu0UbYL2HMKJ-K3TMxJ5o4bcklAqaCKPyXQA4GwbANUsOQIZmnKrp5x6wh75zTKQqWljBhfsWwbPQPBSeVrbl-2DAN702IcW4AaIe1~fYeg12UQghFfff~rXrUFL21je0n7aOUQjvrRBbgiyOxkx3CG6n3pzsrYKZs3Y9KgvTYIZhM1j0z0iDYtBGGY2KwHGLqfD~lnLiiqZK30H30V6lZ1wg0-mo9hA4L1Cqa6Kow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented the first look at the 2025–26 budget, explaining how revenues and expenditures are calculated and identifying near-term items that will affect the proposed tax levy.

A presenter identified as a finance staff member explained that allowable tax levy growth is calculated from the prior-year levy after adjustments for tax base growth and exclusions; the commonly cited 2% figure is applied as the allowable levy growth factor. The staff member noted that December 2024 CPI was 2.9% and that the district must reconcile CPI, the tax-cap formula and local needs when building a budget.

Staff identified primary expenditure drivers as salaries and benefits, mandatory insurance and retirement contributions (ERS and TRS), debt service, special education and transportation. On the revenue side, staff highlighted the role of the tax levy, state aid (including foundation aid), payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), and other income. Pre-K funding was noted to be seat-based: the district receives state funding only for filled pre-K seats; the presenter said the district has 415 available pre-K seats and 368 were filled for the applicable reporting period.

On building aid and capital projects, the presenter said the district typically receives state building aid as reimbursement for eligible capital expenditures and that building aid is paid back over a multi-year period (the presenter stated the district's building aid is reflected over a 15-year span). Staff said a capital-exclusion transfer and the precise PILOT numbers were still pending and would affect the final allowable levy submission. The board was reminded that the district must submit an initial tax-levy figure to the state by March 1, though that submission can be adjusted later in the process.

Trustees asked for clarification on debt service (described as principal and interest payments on bonds or loans) and on the source of specific reserve balances; the presenter said reserve balances shown were as of June 30, 2024, per the audit, and that more granular capital accounting would be provided in upcoming budget meetings.

No appropriation votes were taken during this presentation; staff said more detailed budget hearings will follow at subsequent meetings.","District staff delivered the first 2025–26 budget presentation, explaining key revenue drivers (tax levy calculation, state aid and reserve funds), cost drivers (salaries, benefits, special education, debt service) and the timing of building-aid reimbursements.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6681158,"Board approves minutes, personnel and policy items in unanimous votes",4509,235000,4744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b&start=235&end=4744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2621759-e816c7cd8dda3a2718f0443eb7140d3b/thumbnail_235000.jpg","/articles/6681158/New-York/Board-approves-minutes-personnel-and-policy-items-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681158-6982db833e33731c1e3712279a25bfbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073340&Signature=oYjQo2BOI1or9kzNFHiSjZVyb2HeQNeYCup8XmIJhEglwhzrgooXAVGL~bNlpWowV50y8hANzMoQvszxQeW0ILGH95AD8NIQ8Mx9leD998lHUsg~BrPiv9K~FgQBuxIHfUHF9jhwEk7ICMUC26L1MqiHWh~78iBxedrDlsiyHO1yZDzpqk2JoHK1gRjcTb-cqqdcMk7aqz2c6L7jQIHZpa0yaCH1kzRw9UPb1eRntd3EC~23EbftNHaQaoSNGou6GPpdehDz3xFmuwjjlEJrQ~BTTmUSdBm2k0PZZR3ES0Rbehc3Vbg~T4wDbOB~wWrD0mHZbDaXnNZyXSfVYetySQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Meadow Union Free School District Board of Education approved a series of routine agenda items in unanimous 7-0 votes at its meeting, including minutes, personnel and business consent items, and the district's computer acceptable use policy.

Board members voted 7-0 to approve the minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting, salary changes, and the treasurer's report for November. The board also completed its second reading and final approval of Policy 45.26 (computer use and acceptable use), and approved the 2025-26 school-year calendar.

The board approved a set of consent agendas covering curriculum and instruction (items E1–E2), personnel (F1–F20), and business items (G1–G6). Trustees also approved a custodial overtime man-hours report for December 2024.

During the calendar discussion trustees asked about accommodations related to Passover observance, including whether athletics schedules would change and how kosher-for-Passover meals would be accommodated. A district staff member said athletics schedules were not expected to change and suggested families could bring kosher-for-Passover meals if necessary.

Votes recorded on the floor matched the chair's announced tallies (all listed items passed 7-0). No motions failed or were tabled during the portions of the agenda covered in these roll-call actions.

The board moved into presentations and public comment after completing the business votes; several presentations and public comments followed regarding counseling services, the first budget presentation, capital projects and district transparency.","At its regular meeting, the East Meadow Board of Education approved a package of routine items — including meeting minutes, salary changes, the treasurer's report, the district's acceptable use policy (Policy 45.26) and the 2025-26 school calendar — all by 7-0 votes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public raises questions about district finances, capital spending and personnel during public comment

District outlines K–12 counseling program, expands elementary services and counselor initiatives

District outlines first budget preview; staff explains tax-cap math and building-aid timing

Board approves minutes, personnel and policy items in unanimous votes