North Babylon board hears non-instructional budget; officials highlight near-complete security vestibules, AED purchases and bus plans

The Board of Education received the third presentation in its 2026–27 budget cycle focused on non-instructional spending, where district leaders said security vestibules are installed at every school and described proposed capital transfers, equipment replacements and transportation plans ahead of the budget adoption timeline.

"We do now have security vestibules installed at each one of our school buildings ... The vestibules are 99.9% completed at each of those buildings," Dr. Graham said, describing punch-list items that remain at some sites and a phased rollout of visitor-management systems that will require government-issued photo IDs for visitors during the school day.

Why it matters: the additions are tied to the district’s non-instructional budget and will change how visitors access schools, add a layer of controlled entry with bullet-resistant glass and require staff and vendor coordination for ID-scanning and visitor stickers.

Ms. Buatzi, presenting the non-instructional highlights, said the category funds administration, maintenance, utilities, security, technology, transportation and food service, and proposed increases reflect staffing and equipment needs. She said custodial services are budgeted to increase by about $335,000 and described an overall budget increase of "about 1,300,000.0" in her remarks.

On capital work, Buatzi listed planned purchases and projects: a replacement maintenance van, replacement auto scrubbers, a fence at Woods Elementary School, a retractable security gate at Parliament Place, and a districtwide upgrade to PA and lockdown systems beginning at Belmont Elementary. She referenced a district transfer to capital project funds, saying in one place the number is $500,000 and elsewhere referring to $903,000 for transfer-to-capital purposes; staff did not state which figure is final during the presentation.

The district also plans to replace automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and to provide staff training after Buatzi cited an out-of-district cardiac-arrest incident that prompted the change. When asked how many staff per building are trained to use AEDs, Buatzi said the district does not yet know; training will be scheduled when new machines are procured.

Transportation drew extended discussion. Buatzi said about half of routes ("approximately 50") are contracted to outside providers and that the current contract with Suffolk Transportation (named in the presentation) is scheduled to expire this year; the district intends to extend the contract for one year at CPI while planning longer-term fleet changes. Buatzi noted a state push toward electric school buses and cited figures used in the presentation—roughly $450,000 for an electric large bus versus about $155,000 for a gasoline vehicle—and said the district plans to buy one gasoline bus next year while the sector and state waivers are resolved.

Technology director Mr. Rose framed technology as infrastructure, listing aging smart boards (purchased around 2016–17) and cybersecurity needs. Rose said the district uses E-rate funding (Category 1 and Category 2) and BOCES purchasing to lower net costs, and noted the district will not allow student or staff data access to companies without an approved Education Law 2-d agreement.

Board members asked for follow-up details: a breakdown of the number and ages of large and small buses, a clearer schedule for phased furniture replacement (the presentation included a $61,000 districtwide furniture line for phase one), and confirmation that the $500,000 transfer to capital is primarily targeted at Belmont Elementary to address items omitted during prior construction. Staff agreed to provide those details in an update or email.

Next steps: the board will continue budget presentations (March 10 instructional budget; March 19 special-education and personnel within a regular meeting), with budget adoption slated for April 21, a budget hearing on May 7 and the budget vote on May 19.

The presentation included estimates and multiple figures for certain transfers; staff indicated some numbers remain to be finalized as the budget process proceeds.