Superintendent previews May 20 budget vote, announces district grant and program pilots

Superintendent Dr. Korakis told the Valley Stream 24 Board on May 14 that the district's proposed budget will be on the ballot during the May 20, 2025 budget vote and Exhibit Night. He asked the community to attend the exhibit and the vote.

Dr. Korakis listed district priorities in the proposed budget including increased technology and artificial intelligence integration, piloting robot tutors in classrooms, expanded Spanish and enrichment programs, student safety improvements, and a roofing project for Brooklyn Avenue School. He said those initiatives are part of the district’s Vision 2030 planning and emphasized student voice in decision-making.

The superintendent also announced a grant described in the meeting transcript as a "half $1,000,000 grant" credited to Assemblywoman Solages. According to Dr. Korakis, that grant will fund installation of two new water bottle filtration systems at each school and will support a new sensory playground currently being installed at Robert Carbonaro School; a ribbon-cutting was anticipated in the coming weeks. Dr. Korakis noted other upcoming events tied to the budget timeline, including a district spring band concert (May 15), chorus concert (May 19), Exhibit Night and budget vote (May 20), and a coffee with the superintendent (May 22).

The superintendent framed these items as supporting staff and student programs but did not provide a line-item budget or precise dollar breakdown in the meeting discussion. The grant amount is stated in the transcript in the phrasing "half $1,000,000 grant," which the district did not further clarify on the record at the meeting. The board scheduled a special meeting tied to the budget vote and encouraged community participation ahead of the May 20 vote.