West Islip school budget

Just read about the proposed West Islip school budget. They are looking for a 9.17% increase in our taxes to pay for things such as a new administrative assistant for the Superintendent,(Do we really need another salary?), a fully funded robotics club (isn't that a "nice to have" rather than a "need to have"), school sponsored college visits (isn't that the parents responsibility, not the tax-payers?), another receptionist (another salary?), geography clubs for the elementary schools (another nice to have), and on and on and on.....
When is enough going to be enough for the people in this town?
Didn't we educate our children good enough with this years budget? Why do we need to increase it so much?
Why does the contingency budget have to be over 7%? Can't it just be a Cost of living adjustment?
Pretty soon many of us may have to move because of this school tax burden!
Take a look at the budget (http://www.wi.k12.ny.us/budget/pdf/Public%20I... ) for yourself and try not to throw up.
The most disturcing thing I see is that salaries and benefits for school district employees account for almost 76% of the budget!!!!
Would the superintendent who makes well over $200K agree to a salary freeze? Would the other administrators?
WAKE UP WEST ISLIP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

I don't understand why the proposed budget is for 4.46% but the tax increase is for 9.17. What makes the difference?

I believe thats a 4.46% increase over last years budget which amounts to a tax increase of over 9%.

An educated West Islip resident would attend a public budget planning session and truly understand the budget, what it entails and how it would affect the schools and citizens of West Islip prior to making snap judgements of only a monetary concern. If you are not sure, ask questions and then form an opinion.

I don't think that years of living in a town, going to budget meetings, and paying exorbinant taxes to fund unnecessary jobs/ programs/ perks, would constitute making a "snap" judgement. Besides, someone who lives in Bayshore has no right commenting on West Islip taxes.

You're right, as you have "years of living in a town", however, you are still unaware that a Bayshore address can attend West Islip schools and pay their taxes? Have you been to one budget meeting? Probably not, since the information was just posted. Those "unnecessary jobs and programs" are the ones keeping your children up to date and competitive in today's educational market. And as far as perks, there are none (except having the opportunity to meet lovely parents like you).

Fully funded college trips are necessary to keep my children up to date? Boys volleyball coaches in every building? I didn't know volleyball was necessary to keep my kids "up to date", More clubs? How many more? New receptionist for the guidance department? That work can't be done by someone else? Fully funded robotics program? How many kids are in that program? New Assistant for the Superintendent? Is that really necessary?$70 million in employee salaries and benefits? Are you kidding me?
When is enough enough?

Another guidance secretary????? When is this crap going to end? When I graduated in 2006 there were at least half a dozen secretaries in the HS guidance office plus at least half a dozen more across the hall in the main office, how many more could they possibly need?

We should abolish the local school districts and create township level school districts ex. Town of Islip Public Schools.

LIer wrote:

Another guidance secretary????? When is this crap going to end? When I graduated in 2006 there were at least half a dozen secretaries in the HS guidance office plus at least half a dozen more across the hall in the main office, how many more could they possibly need?
We should abolish the local school districts and create township level school districts ex. Town of Islip Public Schools.

First I applaud you because you are a recent graduate...2006? Second because you have obviously been reading what has been happening lately in the school districts across long island.
Islip Town is not the place to start...they are all in bed with the districts on every level...
The place to begin is revamping the whole system.
School districts are governments...they have loads of power and many of these big salaries suckers don't do their jobs properly or adequately. They don't even know the education law!!
School board trustee's need to be paid and thereby held to accountability, voted in and held to term limits.
Two year terms for each position and paid by the state like regular elected officials.
If these knuckleheads in office don't perform for the people, they get the boot...plain and simple.
If tax payers want accountability...it's term limits...term limits...term limits..this applies to Principles...superintendents.. .(all administrative jobs)
Also one more thing...fire the education lawyers who waste tax payer money doing the wrong thing...tell them to go chase ambulances instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars erroneously!!
Take back the schools and keep these people honest with our money!!!

Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the WI teachers contract?

Does anyone know where I can obtain a copy of the budget? I tried following the link above but was denied access. I can't find any link on the West Islip web page.

I don't know why the forum is showing me as Brentwood - I live in West Islip

For the children wrote:

You're right, as you have "years of living in a town", however, you are still unaware that a Bayshore address can attend West Islip schools and pay their taxes? Have you been to one budget meeting? Probably not, since the information was just posted. Those "unnecessary jobs and programs" are the ones keeping your children up to date and competitive in today's educational market. And as far as perks, there are none (except having the opportunity to meet lovely parents like you).

are you saying if you live in bay shore and send your kids to bay shore you can switch them to west islip?