Wantagh board approves routine consent items, accepts donations and hears budget update ahead of April ballot

The Wantagh Union Free School District Board of Education on March 20 approved routine consent agenda items including minutes, financial reports, personnel actions and multiple contracts and donations, and received a budget update from Superintendent John McNamara.

Board action included motions to approve minutes, financial reports, personnel items and several contracts and agreements listed on the agenda. The board approved a set of donations from school parent‑teacher associations and community donors, including a $5,530 donation of a Bobcat ProTech snow/turf pusher for Wantagh High School, a $2,585.88 Toshiba America Foundation grant to Wantagh High School for micro‑sensor and scientific computing work, $2,287.50 from the Wantagh Middle School Yearbook Committee for a podium, and smaller PTA donations that ranged from $10.40 to $2,000 for field trips and assemblies.

Superintendent John McNamara told the board the district is in the middle of budget season and remains under the tax cap, “which is about 2.89%.” He said the district is awaiting a final state aid number and is currently projecting “just shy of about $23,000,000 from New York State in terms of aid” based on preliminary state projections. McNamara said two propositions will be on the April ballot: the annual budget and a capital proposition asking the community to approve expenditures from the district’s capital reserve fund for roof work at Wantagh Elementary, ceiling repairs at the high school, security camera upgrades, auditorium lighting replacements and other smaller projects.

Other agenda items approved included agreements related to health services, special education tuition and services, participation in the Nassau County Directors of School Facilities Purchasing Consortium, and an educational data services skilled trade bid. The board also approved the disposal of obsolete books and equipment, budget increases and routine authorizations for legal notices. The board approved committee on special education and preschool special education recommendations as presented.

Motions were made and carried by voice vote; the meeting record shows board members responding “Aye” when the chair asked for approval. The transcript does not include recorded roll‑call tallies or the names of individual movers and seconders for each motion.

McNamara also previewed upcoming budget forums and outreach: a personnel‑focused forum the following Monday at the high school cafeteria, a capital projects forum on April 1 and an additional daytime overview on April 2 at the public library. He encouraged community members to complete the district’s online budget survey and to sign up for small budget focus groups posted on the district website.

No new policy changes or contested votes were recorded during the meeting.