[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6247374,"mediaKeyId","3213052-264a206749a7e970d4c3d7611781eaf5","parentId",3213052,"title","East Islip officials outline Science of Reading rollout for K–5; public asks about pilot and funding","audioSeconds",1132,"startMs",1145000,"endMs",2277000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213052-264a206749a7e970d4c3d7611781eaf5&start=1145&end=2277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213052-264a206749a7e970d4c3d7611781eaf5/thumbnail_1145000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6247374/New-York/East-Islip-officials-outline-Science-of-Reading-rollout-for-K5-public-asks-about-pilot-and-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247374-2b4ee3a27857b154d6bd8a53d08f53dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104975&Signature=iPORW0kLG92vb3nHwaNQubLItwKw~XLLV4A59ncpzKDx2t1MWgdoxmCWo7oHfokgZmEWgP-MfZFTWca-as~2REdWQg6NGbl30M5um5-6~EF5TZFGTqwbAmyaC5p3SwrB71znI2FX45q8EKjqUKr1pcwEwvRoJpFIYrAcvEtZ84XigkGKaV6DIyIaz6U94qAdPCZjhNVQlwSVwGL~zOU9J17aqHmFFF1xLk~UKQ9ZBdjf4KRsF4JSbLxVgC94MaUma3-l2jgKhH7RYX9yfSuhqO2nlYGv7ux34Z5yoIfTxhOcfoSp0di2z68bMhMdPI09J8gA~I9n4cg50ur90E9XgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T16:44:54.207Z","article","The East Islip Union Free School District presented plans to align its K–5 literacy instruction with the New York State Education Department’s Science of Reading guidance and to implement a program the presenters called “Magnetic Reading” (presented alongside i-Ready supports), with teacher professional development planned before classroom rollout.

“New York State Education Department is mandating our alignment with the Science of Reading principles,” said Mrs. Nacarado, principal at Twin Point Elementary School. “The Science of Reading is an evidence-based body of knowledge…that explains how students learn to read and write.”

Mrs. Corinne Skarles, director of humanities, described the instructional program and timeline: “It’s a comprehensive literacy program for our K to 5 students. It supports phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and is research based and aligned with the science of reading.” She said program components include explicit phonics instruction, decodable text and interactive lessons, ongoing assessments and adaptive learning, and teacher support and professional development. Skarles said the district plans professional development sessions in June, September and November and expects classroom implementation to begin in September.

District direction and leadership: When asked who would lead the implementation, a board member was told implementation leadership would include Dr. Belser, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, along with the director of humanities and district administration. The district said it would provide periodic updates to the board on implementation progress.

Public questions focused on pilot results and costs. Michelle Rivers, a resident, asked whether a pilot was run and how the program will be paid for, and she raised concerns about unspent federal grants: “Was there a pilot? If so, what were the results of the pilot?...Also, how much is this program costing the taxpayers?” Rivers referenced prior-year unspent IDEA (Section 611) funds and Title II funds and asked how the district will address roughly $67,680 potentially carrying over and $52,000 in unspent Title II funds from 2023–24.

Board follow-up: The administration acknowledged the questions and directed the resident to follow up with Mr. Manzo’s office for detailed accounting. The district did not present a formal pilot study or itemized cost sheet during the hearing; staff said they would supply more detailed budget and grant-spending information on request.

What the program expects to do: Presenters said expected outcomes include improved foundational reading skills, increased student engagement and confidence in literacy, alignment with state literacy requirements, and teacher supports through professional development. They emphasized multi-tiered interventions for struggling readers and ongoing progress monitoring.

No formal vote or policy change occurred at the hearing; the meeting served as a public presentation and question-and-answer opportunity. The district said additional updates on implementation and timelines would be provided to the board and the public as the work proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","East Islip UFSD BOE Meeting -- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 @ 7:00 pm","oneSentenceSummary","District leaders presented a plan to align K–5 instruction with New York State’s Science of Reading guidance, describing an i-Ready/Magnetic Reading program with planned teacher professional development in June, September and November and classroom implementation starting in September.","taxTitle","EAST ISLIP UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",46573,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6247380,"East Islip budget hearing proposes 1.75% tax-levy increase; two transportation and safety propositions could raise homeowner costs",791,108000,899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213052-264a206749a7e970d4c3d7611781eaf5&start=108&end=899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213052-264a206749a7e970d4c3d7611781eaf5/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6247380/New-York/East-Islip-budget-hearing-proposes-175-tax-levy-increase-two-transportation-and-safety-propositions-could-raise-homeowner-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247380-f58ec04bdd1f9e5f890f34ffb73e46c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104975&Signature=KZAE-Yqtla2Xk49gGqFK6QdRREeMP2E7cw3kGkpl89To15c~bZ6m2tEfzhZaoyAwg7n8XDxGmo41FcckF3eZ3tp1NAgprcRh7MTpHI4-yuSwUp5qQvNSodhIYYtvU96rz5CoLHfXkH7fSmSQy16amemA3A6aOSOC88igbXbIaVJ~2DcQjcVgOft7UMBQVXh0xjM20wBAWp1231K2409TNhHH9U44R-m~F-Sj3Ncnb9sqFdXfC5ZacbojYye1NDOJo~qCGJyV13FJ~bCp6NNjHgl~vQCsd-bA~AlXMEgJh1ToXilhzkjrCx20y-ChHkbPaoQHYo4yF4rLifLRuqPqSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public hearing required by New York State, district staff presented the East Islip Union Free School District’s proposed 2025–26 budget that relies on a 1.75% tax-levy increase and $6.4 million in reserve use to support a slate of operating and capital needs.

“The tax levy supporting the proposed budget is 1.75%,” said Mr. Harrison, district staff member, presenting the budget. He told residents that the district’s proposed levy is about $900,000 less than the maximum allowed under the state tax-cap calculation and that the levy supporting the budget is slated to be $77,100,000.

The presentation framed the proposal against state budget assumptions. “State aid is slightly going up by 2%…the biggest contributor to state aid is foundation aid which is going up by 2% or $580,000,” Harrison said, and he noted that a “hold harmless” provision in the state budget prevents districts from receiving less state aid next year than they receive this year. Harrison said without that provision the district could see a roughly $8 million reduction in state aid under the formula.

Why it matters: The hearing explained how the levy, state aid, reserves and several ballot propositions interact to set taxpayer impact. Under the district’s figures, an average homeowner with an assessed value of $40,000 would pay about $140 a year more to support the proposed budget; if both transport and child-safety-zone propositions pass, that homeowner could pay about $47–$48 more in addition.

Key details from the presentation:

- Tax levy: Proposed levy increase 1.75% (presented as $77,100,000 levy). The district’s tax-cap calculation would have allowed up to a 2.93% increase; the board’s proposed levy is approximately $900,000 below that cap.

- State aid and reserves: State aid was presented at about $41,600,000; the district would use roughly $6,400,000 in reserves to balance revenue and appropriations.

- Budget change and expenses: The overall budget-to-budget increase was presented as 2.35% (about $2.9 million). Salary and benefits were described as roughly 74% of the total budget; Harrison said salary-and-benefits expenses increased by about $893,000, driven by contractual salary steps but partially offset by a lower Teachers’ Retirement System premium contribution and lower-than-anticipated health-insurance costs.

- Contingency budget: If voters reject the budget and the board moves to a contingency budget, Harrison said the allowable increase would shrink to $317,000 after stripping about $2.6 million from the proposed budget; under contingency rules the district cannot raise the levy above the last approved levy and some purchases (equipment, student supplies) would be disallowed.

- Universal Pre-K (UPK): The presentation said the district’s UPK allocation fills 78 full-time slots; the dollar amount stated in the presentation was given verbally in the hearing slides.

- Transportation proposition: One proposition would expand bus-eligibility distances (K–5 to ½ mile; grades 6–8 to 1 mile; grades 9–12 unchanged). Harrison described a two-sided fiscal impact: transporting additional students can reduce reported transportation aid from the state (estimated district impact about $140,000) and would likely require about two additional buses. In response to a board question, Harrison said the bus change would affect “approximately 260 students.” He said the transportation proposition would add roughly $37 annually to the average homeowner if enacted.

- Child-safety-zone proposition: A second proposition would establish a child-safety zone for a few addresses south of Sunrise Avenue between Carlton and the Heckscher Spur; the presenter said that proposition would add about $10.50 annually to the average homeowner.

- Capital reserve and switch-gear projects: Voters previously approved a capital reserve on May 21, 2023, to accumulate up to $3,000,000 per year for up to 10 years (noting the reserve cap of $30,000,000). The board is asking voter approval to spend from that reserve on switch-gear replacements at the ECC and Timberpointe buildings. Harrison described switch gear as equipment that brings and distributes electricity into a building and said those units are in need of replacement. He emphasized that using the capital reserve would avoid borrowing costs for those projects.

Public timeline and next steps: Harrison said the district’s budget vote is scheduled for May 20, with polling from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the building noted in the presentation.

Questions and public comment at the hearing focused on the transportation proposition, program costs, and grant spending. One board member asked Harrison for a follow-up with more granular information on the number of students affected by the bus proposal and its exact costs. The district did not adopt any formal budget action at this hearing; the meeting served as the required public forum and information session ahead of the scheduled budget vote.

One attendee asked specifically about the breakdown of revenue sources and unspent grant balances; directors said staff would follow up with details after the hearing.

The board and administration emphasized that the numbers presented rely on the state budget in its current form and that voter approval would still be required for the propositions presented.","At a New York State–required public hearing, district staff presented a proposed 2025–26 budget supported by a 1.75% tax-levy increase, described state-aid assumptions and reserve use, and outlined two ballot propositions that would add costs for some homeowners and expand bus eligibility for roughly 260 students.","actionData","errors"]

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East Islip officials outline Science of Reading rollout for K–5; public asks about pilot and funding

East Islip budget hearing proposes 1.75% tax-levy increase; two transportation and safety propositions could raise homeowner costs