A Message from West Babylon Schools

The following is a message from the West Babylon School District concerning the 2013-2014 budget making process and financial overview for the upcoming year:

"The West Babylon Union Free School District prides itself on being fiscally solvent and proactive in planning for the future of its students. This is achieved through the careful and ongoing analysis of operating expenditures and programs to confirm that the district is being run efficiently and effectively. Administrators and district staff continue to work together to ensure that the integrity of the West Babylon academic and athletic programs remains intact and that students continue to have opportunities to flourish.

Several steps have been taken to streamline expenditures within the district in order to present a proposed 2013-2014 budget that falls below the allowable tax levy cap while saving money for the future. Last year, teacher retirement incentives were negotiated, saving the district money on salary and retirement costs. Additionally, the district will see cost-saving staff reductions due to the consolidation of the Language Arts and Testing Office. The duties currently held by the administrator of this department, who will be retiring in June, will be shared among several other district staff members. The district had worked with the custodial staff to renegotiate the terms of their contracts. As such, head custodians now receive compensatory time for weekend work rather than overtime. New hires of the CSEA and WBAA units, hired after this year, will contribute a higher percentage toward their health insurance as a means to reduce district costs.

The district has been awarded several grants that support its mission without adding additional burden to the community. Grants include the STLE: Strengthening Teacher Leader Effectiveness Grant, the Carol M. White PEP Grant and the Virtual AP Grant, all of which support professional development and technology for the district.

An additional review of materials and supplies, as well as equipment and textbooks, was another means by which the administration was able to streamline costs. The district has moved to the use of electronic report cards this year so as to reduce the cost of paper and mailing. In addition, it continues to utilize BOCES services whenever it can to maximize BOCES aid. The district recently approved a contract with a consulting firm to review its state aid submissions to determine whether it is maximizing the state aid in every area, and has initiated a long-range planning group to perform a consolidation feasibility study."