Schools

School Board Notes: District Prepares Plan for Budget Review

School board prepares to pitch bond vote; High School senior approved for NYSSMA trip.

The Riverhead school board unanimously approved a budget development calendar for the 2012-13 school year at their meeting on Tuesday evening.

The calendar, which district Superintendent Nancy Carney called a "very aggressive" plan, will be a guide to develop next year's budget in a timely manner.

The proposed calendar shows the board will begin to discuss budget outlook in mid October and will have a tentative budget ready by their scheduled meeting on March 27.

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On April 17, the budget is scheduled to be adopted, followed by a public hearing on the school budget on May 8 leading up to a school budget vote during the annual elections on May 15.

Board prepares to campaign for bond vote

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With the school bond vote less than one month away, the Riverhead school board is preparing to mail out brochures, alert residents to their polling places and speak to schools and civic associations to approve the measure.

The proposed two-part bond to make improvements to the district's schools totals over $85 million. The first proposition would authorize a $78.3 million bond to be used to construct new classrooms and cafeteria space, repair windows and doors, repair parking, sidewalks and plumbing, as well as other building improvements.

The second half of the bond calls for a bond of $6.95 million to build a new 16,000 square-foot gym at the high school. Should the first bond proposition fail, the second could not be adopted.

The vote will be held at four district schools on Oct. 11, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The district will begin their campaign Thursday evening at a informational session to be held Phillips Avenue, Carney said.

"I urge [the community] to ask questions," she said, adding that the district will set up a hotline with more information about the vote.

Board president Ann Cotten-Degrasse was not at Tuesday's meeting, as she was not feeling well. She was unable to be reached for comment.

Riverhead High School senior to travel to NYSSMA

Stephen Peppaceno, a high school senior and tenor soloist, will be traveling to NYSSMA early this December after the school board voted to approve up to $2,200 for transportation and hotel costs.

Peppaceno will attend the All State Festival and Conference in Rochester, N.Y. from December 1 through 4, according to the board's agenda. He will travel by coach bus to the conference, and will stay at a to-be-determined hotel in Rochester.

The uncertainty of whether the hotel will include food for Peppaceno and a chaperone lead to the $2,200 approval, the board said.

"We wish Stephen the best of luck and we know he'll do well," said board member Jeffrey Falisi.


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