Superintendent: foundation aid up about 2%; federal judge expected to rule on mascot by March

John McNamara, superintendent of schools for the Wantagh Union Free School District, told the board at its Jan. 23 business meeting that foundation aid—the district’s largest portion of state aid—appears set to increase about 2% under the governor’s proposed budget and that the governor has proposed universal free lunch and breakfast programs across the state.

McNamara said the district is preparing its budget calendar and will present a first draft to the community on March 10. He said the district will send a budget survey after the February break and will hold small virtual budget focus groups for residents to provide input. McNamara described the focus groups as small conversations with district officials to solicit community priorities for the budget.

On district litigation, McNamara told the board the district is “waiting for the outcome of that litigation” concerning the school mascot and that the district had been told it should receive a decision from the federal judge hearing the case by March. The meeting record does not supply further details of the litigation or the judge’s timetable beyond that statement.

McNamara recognized multiple students, staff and volunteers at the start of the meeting. He introduced the boys varsity cross‑country team, which he said won the county championship, and noted the district’s all‑county musicians. He also announced that Dr. Gazzone, the district’s high‑school principal, had been selected to attend the Nobel Prize Teachers Summit in Sweden, and that Wantagh Middle School aide Barbara Young is retiring after 21 years of service.

Student government representatives provided a summary of school events and activities, including a clothing drive, a Valentine’s Day raffle fundraiser and anti‑bullying month initiatives. Student government reported athletic records: girls basketball 10–1 and boys basketball 8–4 as of the report, and noted individual student achievements at regional and national running meets.

A number of parent‑teacher association and community groups gave organizational reports on upcoming events, fundraisers and teacher‑grant awards from the Wantagh Foundation. The transcript records no public‑comment presentations at the podium before the meeting adjourned.

The board advanced routine agenda items later in the meeting, including consent items and Committee on Special Education recommendations; the superintendent’s updates provided budget and litigation context but did not include formal board directives or votes on those topics.