Schools

Commack Voters Head to Polls on $171M Budget

Catch up on the latest headlines and opinions on Commack's proposed $171M budget and Board of Ed election before Tuesday.

Commack school district taxpayers will be asked to cast their ballot on the district's proposed $171 million 2012-13 budget on Tuesday. 

The polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at and . 

The proposed $171,344,680 budget represents a 3.17 percent budget-to-budget increase, or approximate spending increase of $5,262,856. If voters pass the budget as is, it would represent a 2.60 percent tax levy increase. 

Find out what's happening in Commackwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Commack's proposed budget stays well under the 4.1 percent tax levy cap under New York State, requiring only a simple majority to pass. Although some and whether it would save teachers. 

The Budget

Find out what's happening in Commackwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the proposed budget, Commack school officials suggest to lay off roughly 37 teachers, six custodians and three teaching assistants. Read full break down of the staffing cuts, on a school-by-school basis and by academic area. 

for the 2012-13 school year, along with other central administrative staff. He has encouraged the teacher's union to do the same in order to avoid layoffs. 

The proposed budget will also cut 14 co-curricular clubs at Commack High School and five after-school clubs at Commack Middle School. The number of hours for Intramural sports will be reduced at the intermediate schools. 

to defend the district's Latin program and music programs from becoming part of the planned budget cuts. 

High School clubs not funded under the 2012-13 budget, to be cut based on enrollment: 

  • ICA Stage Band
  • Peer Leadership Advisory Network (PLAN)
  • Warped Sci-Fi Magazine
  • Math Magazine
  • Glamour Gals
  • International Thespian Society
  • Young Democrats
  • Young Republicans
  • Grandfriends
  • Future Health Professionals
  • Bible Club
  • Hebrew Club 
  • Peer Mediation
  • Stage Craft

Middle school and intermediate clubs not to be funded in 2012-13: 

  • Fitness Club
  • Guitar Ensemble
  • Scrapbook club
  • Stage Band
  • Treble Singers
  • Intramurals hours to be reduced

Read more about and the

In addition, the proposed budget calls for cuts to the district's athletic programs by reducing the number of assistant coaches for its after-school teams as well as elimination of two sports teams. 

Assistant coaches will be reduced or eliminated for the following teams:

  • Varsity Field Hockey
  • Varsity Football
  • Varsity Gymnastics
  • Varsity Boys Soccer
  • Varsity Girls Soccer
  • Varsity Boys Basketball
  • Varsity Girls Basketball
  • Varsity Wrestling
  • Varsity Baseball
  • Varsity Softball
  • Varsity Boys Lacrosse
  • Varsity Girls Lacrosse
  • Football - Middle School
  • Girls Gymnastics - Middle School
  • Coed Track - Middle School
  • Wrestling - Middle School 

The Varsity boys and girls swim teams will be eliminated as the district does not have a swimming pool and the team was being combined with Central Islip, leading to significant transportation costs. 

Board of Education

There is one seat open on Commack's Board of Education. Incumbent Vice President Deborah Guber will be running against challenger Daniel Fusco for a three-year term. 

at the Meet the Candidates Night on May 10. 

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