Last Chance: Give Your Opinion on Commack's Budget

Do you have any questions or concerns about Commack's 2012-13 school budget? Perhaps you think its fair budget that does its best to provide for the children despite limited state aid, or feel the board trustees looked to the wrong areas to make cuts? 

Commack residents have their last opportunity to have their voices be heard on the proposed 2012-13 budget at the Commack School District's formal budget hearing 8 p.m. Thursday at  

The Commack Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled board meeting including the recognition of student awards. In the middle of the meeting, it will hold a public forum on the proposed budget. 

The proposed $171 million budget represents an increase of $5,262,856, or 3.17 percent over the current school year. This would mean a tax levy increase of 2.6 percent across Commack School district. 

Under the proposed $171 million budget, the school district . There will be 17.24 teacher and staff reductions at the elementary schools, with approximately six positions lost due to student enrollment. There will be an additional 10.1 teaching positions at  and 10.53 positions at . 

If the adopted budget is approved, school officials will cut 14 co-curricular clubs at the high school, five co-curricular clubs at the middle school, and cutting back on the number of Intramural hours at the intermediate schools. 

School officials are proposing to eliminate the assistant sports coaches for 12 varsity sports teams and four middle school teams. There will be a elimination of non-league contests at Commack High School and cutting the varsity boys and girls swimming teams. 

Tell us, what are your thoughts on Commack's proposed budget as the May 15 elections draw close? Do you plan on voting for or against the proposed budget? 

Click here to read Patch's full coverage of Commack's 2012-13 school budget season.