LAWRENCE, NEW YORK (APRIL 2022) —The Board of Education and central administration of the Lawrence Union Free School District take pride in their ability to maintain the highest standard of educational excellence while developing annual budgets with the lowest possible tax impact. Over the course of the past two months, the District’s proposed 2022-2023 budget has been presented to the community. Most recently, the program component of the budget was reviewed at a Board of Education budget development workshop. Previous budget development workshops reviewed the capital and administrative components of the proposed budget.
“In crafting annual budgets, we focus on two primary objectives—we care for our students and we care for our taxpayers. We care for our students by supporting and sustaining award-winning programs, initiatives, technology assets, teachers, and our state-of-the-art facilities,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ann Pedersen. “And we demonstrate care for our taxpayers by presenting annual budgets that feature no increase to the tax levy. The proposed 2022-2023 budget represents the second consecutive year there will be no increase in the tax levy. That is due to the hard work of our Lawrence team and the vigilant support of our parents and community.”
In the spring of 2020, when the start of the pandemic shut schools down, Lawrence successfully shifted to the mandated remote learning paradigm. This experience, together with the district’s ongoing tech initiatives, has helped create the resources and districtwide capabilities that will ensure the district is ready for any technological challenge that might arise in the future. The proposed budget also provides for enhanced efforts in the area of social-emotional learning and support. In this area, the proposed budget supports the district’s partnership with Northwell Mental Health services to create family workshops and to make sure there are external supports for all students who need it.
Proposition #2 is for the Peninsula Public Library budget. Information on the library’s proposed 2022-2023 budget can be found by visiting: https://bit.ly/3Kinvyu. Proposition 3 is for the establishment of a capital reserve fund, to be known as the 2022 Capital Reserve Fund, in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000. The funds would be used for financing reconstruction, renovations, and equipment additions at all Lawrence School District buildings with no tax impact on Lawrence School district taxpayers.
Proposition #4 has two parts. The first part, similar to Proposition #3, is for the establishment of a capital reserve fund, to be referred to as the 2023 Capital Reserve Fund, in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
Again, these funds would be used for financing reconstruction, renovations, and equipment additions at all Lawrence School District buildings without a tax impact on residents. The second part of Proposition #4 is to authorize the District to purchase property for the purpose of enlarging the Early Childhood Center (School No.4) grounds and parking area in the amount of $825,000, the funds of which would come from the District’s unappropriated, unassigned fund balance in the general fund, thereby having no tax impact on Lawrence School District residents.
Line-by-line review details may view the 2022-2023 Proposed Budget on the district website, Lawrence.org, under Important Documents. To view what is on the ballot please visit: https://www.lawrence.org/page/budget-vote-election-information
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to verify your polling location please check: https://nb.findmypollplace.com/lawrenceufsd/
For more information about the Lawrence Union Free School District and the latest District news please visit www.lawrence.org.
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