Southampton school officials consider more spending

As the Southampton Union Free School District looks to trim a nearly half-million dollar budget shortfall, it is considering spending more for wholesome lunches and to expand a summer school program.

At its meeting Tuesday night, the School Board praised Regan Kiembock, dietician and director of the district’s food program, for stocking students’ lunch trays with organic baby greens, edamame and local apples and educating students about making healthful food choices despite operating with a $20,000 deficit, managing with a secretary who was cut to part-time and working in a “dingy” cafeteria with aging, 40-year-old equipment.

“I would value a food enhancement program right up along with the bus replacement program, personally,” said Board Vice President David Dubin. “Look at the obesity, childhood diabetes, all of these things that are happening when they’re in school, so we’re either going to pay for it now or we’re going to pay a lot more for it later.”

Ms. Kiembock has also been involved in talks with school officials about renovating the cafeteria to promote a “casual dining” atmosphere. Administrators hope that a modernized eating area will encourage seniors to stay on campus during lunch period.

Dr. Boyes recommended the board consider transferring $50,000 into the general fund for the 2010-11 budget for the kitchen program.

Also on Tuesday, the board considered adding a $43,000 expense to expand the summer school program, which includes such offerings as a music camp and Spanish courses, by an additional week, at the recommendation of Dr. Nicholas Dyno, the assistant superintendent for personnel and technology.

If the proposed expenses are approved, the projected budget deficit for the 2010-11 school year will top $625,000.

The board must adopt its budget by April 20.

“At this point, we’ve managed to pick off a lot of the low-lying fruit,” Superintendent Dr. J. Richard Boyes said of the budget at the board meeting on Tuesday. “Now it gets tough.”

The School Board was scheduled to meet with the Budget and Academic advisory committees in a special budget meeting open to the public on Wednesday evening to discuss a list of more than $1 million worth of potential cost-saving measures. Dr. Boyes did say that staff may need to be reduced, though the board is hoping to stave of layoffs by enticing teachers into an early-retirement program, which the district is extending.

Colleen Reynolds