Mount Sinai presents instructional, technology and special education budget plans; administrators cite $319,456 increase for covered sections

Mount Sinai Union Free School District administrators on Feb. 4 presented budget proposals for instructional programs, professional development, technology, pupil personnel services, guidance and ancillary areas — roughly 10% of the district’s total budget — and reported a combined proposed increase of $319,456 for those sections.

Superintendent Dr. Crucione opened the workshop by outlining recent school events before turning the meeting to administrators. Dr. Branscomb, speaking about curriculum and professional development, described a three-part budget: contractual services for speakers and AP training, materials and supplies for conference printing and assessment scoring manuals, and BOCES services that include AIMSweb, alternate-assessment training and other assessment and scoring supports.

"We have our contractual services. We have our materials and supplies. And we also have our BOCES services," Dr. Branscomb said. He told the board the district is holding that budget component at the same level as the current year while maintaining BOCES-funded training and assessment supports.

Building principals and department leads then summarized proposed…