Presentation Of Proposed Budget To Clarkstown School Board

Clarkstown School Superintendent Dr. J. Thomas Morton will present the proposed 2013-2014 school year budget to the Board of Education at Thursday’s meeting. An overview of the draft budget was shared in February. At that time, Assistant Superintendent John LaNave explained the draft budget of $192,882,638 would increase the property tax levy by 4.3 percent.

The draft budget, which was 6.62 percent higher than the current plan, also had a $9 million gap between revenues and expenses that would have to be closed with money from the unrestricted reserve fund. 

The board will vote on Dr. Morton’s recommendation to award the contact for the Clarkstown North High School bleacher/press box project for $330,000 to Fourmen Construction.  Five contractors bid on the project.

Additionally, board members will discuss who will serve as the district representative on the BOCES School Board.  They will vote on accepting several donations to schools:

• $250 from the Rockland County Chapter of the NYS Professional Engineers toward the MATHCOUNTS Competition at Felix Festa Middle School
• 55 flats of pachysandra valued at $800 for the Clarkstown North High School Music Room Landscaping Project from the Clarkstown North PTSA
• Fence privacy slats valued at $200 to surround the Clarkstown North generator from the Clarkstown North PTSA
• Six bowling kits valued at $1,374 for elementary schools from New City Bowl and Batting Cages

The board will vote on approving Hansoo Lee’s Eagle Scout Project for the Birchwood School. Lee, a member of New City Boy Scout Troop 97, wants to build three new benches, paint existing benches and add topsoil and grass seed to the playground. His project is valued at $2,400.

The school board meeting begins at 8 p.m. A community and school board budget review is scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chestnut Grove district office.