The Port Washington Schools are in danger due to the NYS Tax Cap. Currently, the Board of Education plans to approve a budget that will increase the school budget by 1.88%. They do not have to do this. Under the law, the citizens of Port Washington have the right to vote on a School Budget that maintains, or even adds back, services. While 60% or more would have to approve of such a budget, we believe that it is the responsibility of the Board of Education to let the voters decide.
The current plan will result in devastating cuts to our schools. These cuts will include, at a minimum, a significant increase in class size due to the elimination of 4 elementary sections, 2 middle schools teachers and 4 high school teachers, elimination of an elementary art teacher, the PEP program and a reduction of over $600,000 in school supplies. Current planned cuts will also lead to elimination of 20 Sports Teams and 65 Club Advisors from Weber and Schreiber. The number of students directly affected by these cuts is mind boggling. This is on top of last year’s cuts in elementary library programs, guidance counselors and increases in class size. In short, the school district is on a path that will lead to the destruction of the quality of our schools.
