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Vol. 29 No. 8
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Maidenbaum Propert y Tax Reduction Gro up, LLC 483 Chestnut Street, Cedarhurst, NY 11516
FEBRUARY 17 - 23, 2022
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Baldwin falls in love for Valentine’s
THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCTION
Brookside is named a School of Character By CRisTiNA ARRoYo RoDRiGUEz carroyo@liherald.com
Courtesy Baldwin School District
ThE BRooKsiDE sTUDENT Council organized a canned food drive for the Turkey Trot, in which collected food was donated to Island Harvest for families in need.
B ro o k s i d e E l e m e n t a r y School has been named a 2022 State School of Character — the only school on Long Island, and one of just 68 schools across the country to receive this distinction from Character. org. “I am so proud of the work our entire school community engages in daily to ensure our students are celebrated, supported and nurtured, said Princ i p a l U n a l K a r a k a s, 3 9 . “Becoming a State School of
Character exemplifies the robust Character Education program that we’ve created to provide our students the most well-rounded education possible.” T h e aw a rd re c o g n i z e s Brookside’s focus on its students’ social, emotional and ethical development. The award has 11 criteria, centering on emotional intelligence, community service, leadership and growth. Jasmine Nelson, 10, shared what she and her classmates love most about Brookside. Continued on page 16
Baldwin Schools set to receive $6 million in federal funding By KARiNA KoVAC
Upcoming budget dates March 2: Budget work sessions April 6: Board of Education adoption of the budget April 19: Drawing for BOE candidate ballot listing May 4: BOE budget hearing May 17: Budget vote and BOE trustee election
kkovac@liherald.com
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Baldwin Union Free School District will receive federal Foundation Aid, forecast at $6 million, to help fund the 2022-23 district budget. Superintendent of Schools Shari Camhi explained at the Feb. 9 budget work session that the funds would be devoted to multi-year sustainability of future projects. The district is awaiting the finalized state budget numbers, but its tentative spending plan totals $146 million, which, Camhi said, would include soffit
restoration and removing unkempt areas at the Shubert School, resurfacing of the high school tennis courts and districtwide safety security enhancements Uses of the district’s capital reserve that need to be voted on include updated restrooms districtwide, and updates of the high school football field including an artificial-turf field, new home and away grandstands, a press box and scoreboard, and a new track. Also up for a vote is a proposition by Camhi to create a reserve fund for the schools for future use, including updating technology every few years. The money
would come from the end-of-year fund balance, and would not affect the tax levy — the total amount the district must raise taxes in order to meet expenses. The unprecedented complications of the coronavirus pandemic last year were costly to the schools, which had to invest in laptops for one to one learning for the students, hire additional
cleaning staff, and adjust class sizes to entire a safe learning environment. With that in mind, Camhi said, she and the board are focused on “sustainable multi-year planning” that will stretch funds for future use. Cahmi explained more about the creation of a reserve fund saying, “because of the additionContinued on page 16