The Bridgehampton School District's proposed $18.98 million spending plan for the next school year would maintain the "status quo" at the school, neither adding nor cutting programs, services, or staffing, superintendent Robert Hauser said Tuesday.
"In my opinion, it's a conservative budget" that takes into account possible cuts to state funding and other realities of Covid-19 that schools must handle, he said.
The budget incorporates a 1.59-percent year-over-year spending jump (less than $300,000 total) and a tax levy increase of 3.23 percent. Both figures are among the lowest increases the district has seen since the statewide tax cap law took effect in 2012. For a house with a fair market value of $2.5 million, a homeowner would spend about $55 more for the year.
School officials have decided not to implement the Advanced Placement Capstone program for the time being. The program is a rigorous series of courses that often yields college credit for students after they take comprehensive exams. The school will still offer several individual AP classes.
An online public hearing on the budget, followed by a virtual meet-and-greet session with candidates for the school board, is planned for Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Google Meet. A link to the hearing will be on the district website, bridgehamptonschool.com. Polling this year is by absentee ballot, which will be automatically mailed to all school district voters, along with a postage-paid return envelope. Ballots must be received by the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on June 9.
Two seats on the board are open; three candidates are running. They are Michael Gomberg, who previously served a term on the board, and two incumbents, Kathleen McCleland and Markanthony Verzosa.
Ms. McCleland, a parent of two Bridgehampton School students, is seeking her third term. A pastry chef by trade, she and her husband own two restaurants in Sag Harbor, Beacon and the Bell and Anchor. Ms. McCleland is active with the Bridgehampton School Foundation, is a past PTO volunteer, and has served on Bridgehampton's wellness and strategic planning committees. She is also on the Christian education committee of the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church.
"We've come so far, and I'm really proud of what we've done as a team," she said this week. "The current board works really well together in terms of everyone bringing something different to the table, and there's really a collaborative effort. We have some big goals — particularly academically — and it's something I am committed to stay a part of."
Mr. Verzosa is seeking a second term on the board. He is the father of two Bridgehampton students and heads a building company, MACV Construction. He is a member of the district's budget, safety, and buildings and grounds committees, and is a founding member of the curriculum committee. Among his leadership roles, he is a mentor in the Design Directions Program at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
He said his "desire to influence the curriculum, in the best possible ways, to embolden our children and young adults, is just as important as the construction of a new school campus. As the campus changes for the better of the district, the curriculum should expand and develop along with it . . . A healthy school body is essential in developing a nurturing environment for the students to learn at the highest of levels."
Mr. Gomberg is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments, with expertise in asset management and retirement planning, and is a parent of two Bridgehampton School students. His was a member of the school board from 2016 to 2019, but his service to the school dates back to 2014, when he became involved in the district's audit and budget committees. He has been an advocate for special education, rigorous academics, and technology programs.
"We have a responsibility and duty to help ensure that the district uses its many resources in the most efficient and effective way, while striving for excellence and always putting students first," Mr. Gomberg said. "While a lot of progress has been made in recent years, the district is facing many challenges. It is my priority to make sure all students are learning and not falling behind during these uncertain times."