Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Facilities, athletics and health budgets highlighted as trustees ask about sprinklers and new flag‑football program
Loading...
Summary
Mr. Mercado presented the physical education, health, athletics and facilities components of the 2026–27 budget, noting capital projects (boilers/chillers), increased use of SchoolDude for work orders, and athletic participation metrics; trustees asked about sprinkler coverage and the expansion of flag football.
Mr. Mercado, presenting the physical education, health, athletics and facilities portion of the 2026–27 budget, described staffing and planned capital work and answered trustee questions on safety and participation.
Mercado said physical education staffing will remain stable (31 PE staff) and described curricular adjustments to identify athlete‑specific sections. He noted health education will be staffed with six instructors and will address topics from mental‑health awareness to nutrition and STD prevention. On facilities, Mercado listed 71 custodians, 10 grounds and 10 maintenance staff supporting roughly 9,500 students and 1,600 staff across 14 buildings, and highlighted the district’s in‑house approach to many capital projects to keep costs down.
The presenter reviewed ongoing capital work at the district’s Center Reach building (boiler and chiller replacement) and other projects completed during spring break (new walkways, stair‑tread replacement and interior painting). He described rolling out SchoolDude for more accurate tracking of work orders and vendor accountability, and said the facilities budget shows roughly a 2% increase driven by vendor and material cost increases.
Trustees questioned whether elementary sites have sprinkler systems; Mercado said sprinkler systems exist at facilities but may not provide 100% coverage everywhere and that expanding coverage is a future consideration. On athletics, trustees asked about flag‑football participation in its inaugural season; Mercado said rosters began at about 50 players and stabilized around 40, and that the district will monitor interest before considering an additional JV team.
Mercado also noted a shift of a stipend into a contract code to pay athletic trainers through Northwell Health. He and trustees agreed to seek Education Foundation funding for sensory rooms and outdoor classrooms at specific elementary sites.
No board vote was required on these detailed budget segments at the meeting; the facilities and athletics information was presented as part of the overall budget package later adopted by the board.
