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VoL. 71 No. 16
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Giangregorio lights the dome
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APRIL 13 - 19, 2023
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Seaford schools approve budget of $80.4 million total around $58.5 million, which is the third-lowest levy in the last seven years, but still amounts to of the Seaford Herald a $1.35 million increase over the Voters in Seaford will go to current year. The extent to the polls on May 16 to decide which property taxes will be whether to pass an $80.4 million raised is determined after the school budget for district considers all 2023-24. the other estimated At its April 4 sources of revenue. meeting, the Seaford The preliminary Board of Education 2023-24 budget facadopted the spendtors in $18.2 million ing plan, which is in state aid, an 3.98 percent larger increase of $2.17 milthan the cur rent lion from 2022-23. budget. The projectThe state aid expensed tax levy shows an es include $30,564 in increase of $1.3 miltechnology aid, $1.4 lion, or 2.37 percent. million in building “We are very cogaid and $11.3 million nizant of the need to in foundation aid, offer a budget that which is earmarked maintains our for schools with robust pro g rams RHoNDA high-need students. while trying to do so Fo u n d a t i o n a i d , w i t h t h e l owe s t MESERoLE which shows an impact on our tax- assistant increase of 17.3 perpayers and, quite superintendent, cent, allows the dishonestly, there is trict to make Seaford schools something for everyinstructional and one in this budget,” structural improveRhonda Meserole, Seaford’s ments. When foundation aid assistant superintendent for exceeds 10 percent, the district business and operations, said. formulates a foundation aid The projected tax levy — the plan. A new component in the money collected by the district budget will include $167,769 in through property taxes — would Continued on page 2
By KEPHERD DANIEL & MICHAEL MALASZCZYK
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Tim Baker/Herald
JoE MottoLA, fAR left, Elaine Tamsen and Nicola Bilotta have been named the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee’s Honorary Patriots for 2023. At right is the committee’s chairman, Tom Condon, a former teacher and guidance counselor in the Seaford Public School District.
Meet the Honorary Patriots
Tamsen, Bilotta, Mottola given honor for 2023 By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
The Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee was created to remember — and mourn — the five local victims of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, keeping their memory alive year-round. One way to do this was for the committee to name Honorary Patriots each year, and this year Joe Mottola, Elaine Tamsen and Nicola Bilotta were singled out for their noble work in the community. The committee’s slogan remains, “Service builds character, make it your commitment.” Five Seaford High School alumni perished in the 9/11 attacks. Timothy Haskell (class of 1985) and his brother, Thomas (1982), both
served in the New York City Fire Department. Robert Sliwak (1977) and Michael Wittenstein (1985) worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, and John William Perry (1982) was a New York City police officer. “After 9/11, a lot of people were very angry,” Tom Condon, who became the memorial committee’s chairman, said. “That was in the news every day — turmoil, unrest, anger. But when I met with all of the families together, they said that they wanted to do something positive to remember their sons — not out of anger, not about retaliating, something positive.” Condon, who worked in Seaford schools for 48 years as a social studies teacher, adminisContinued on page 4
e are very cognizant of the need to offer a budget that maintains our robust programs.